Greg O’Keeffe has been speaking on the All Together Now podcast about some of the Everton players’ thoughts when Rafa Benitez first came into the club.
It’s safe to say that Benitez was not a lot of people’s first choice to replace Carlo Ancelotti who left over the summer to experience a second stint as Real Madrid manager, but after three wins from four league games, there appears to be no hangover from the Italian leaving Goodison Park, with fans seemingly growing to the former Liverpool boss.
Should Everton have signed Van de Beek?
Yes!
No!
Although O’Keeffe has revealed that some of the fringe players within Everton’s squad were not impressed by what the Spaniard was getting the players to do in pre-season in terms of fitness training in preparation for the season, those feelings appear to have now disappeared with some positive results.
O’Keeffe delivered an interesting insight into what some Everton players thought when Benitez arrived.
“One or two players on the fringes it has to be said who I heard were grumbling about Benitez’s pre-season, and as they viewed it, excessive intensity of the fitness sessions, probably they weren’t used to it for a long time.
“I think now, from what I’ve heard, even those players are actually saying ‘no, I get it now’. This is yielding, it’s not rocket science, Benitez said it, they’re seeing it, it’s yielding results.”
TIF Thoughts on Benitez at Everton…
The best way to win over fans is by getting positive results which is what Benitez has done, providing Everton fans with attacking and exciting games as well, with three of their games consisting of four goals so far this campaign.
The Toffees have had some relatively easier fixtures in the Premier League so far including Burnley and Southampton but now they are set to face Aston Villa and Manchester United in their next few games which may show where they are amongst the other clubs for the remainder of the season.