Rafa Benitez has refused to rule out winning a trophy at Everton, although he admits it will be a difficult task. The Spaniard was confirmed as the club’s new manager at the end of June, following the surprise departure of Carlo Ancelotti to return to Real Madrid at the beginning of the month.
Rafa Benitez said: “The question is – is it possible [to win trophies]? I would stay yes. Will it be difficult? Yes, it will be difficult but you never know. The cup competitions, to be in Europe, depending on your belief, the way you work and if you are a bit lucky at the beginning then you will have more confidence in the future. So I don’t see why not, I don’t see why we can’t try to do our best in every competition if we can be sure we have a strong enough squad to do it. One of the things I’ve always done is rotation. So if the players who are not playing some games can reach the level to play or be part of the team we can do it and maybe that will mean you can go all the way until the end winning games. Hopefully we can do that.”
Benitez joins Everton having previously managed at a number of top clubs across Europe including Chelsea, Real Madrid and Napoli. When asked whether he believes the challenge on his hands at Goodison Park will be the toughest of his career, he reiterated that he believes in the potential of the squad.
Rafa Benitez added: “I will say that I have had a lot of challenges along my career. This one I can see the potential. Talking with some of the senior players, I like the way they are talking. Now it is just a question to be sure we can do these things on the pitch. My job is to give them confidence, to give them the tools to go in the games thinking we can win, we can win this game and that it doesn’t matter the name of the opponent. We can do it because we have a plan and we follow the plan. Always I talk about Plan A, B and even C so they need to know how to react if something is wrong and they go to Plan B if it is necessary or Plan C. We can talk about games we were doing well and after you have to change and maybe the players were not adapted to that. If we have that then I think we can manage against any team.”
Much has been made about the style of play that Everton could impose next season. The Blues started 2020/21 in strong fashion by playing some expansive football, but found results easier to come by later in the term with a more pragmatic attitude to fixtures. Benitez has identified that balance will be key in all matches, and he believes that the squad are already picking up on his methods well at Finch Farm.
Rafa Benitez said: “People talk about modern football but modern football is copying what Arrigo Sacchi was doing 20 years ago. We know that, we know how to do it, we know how we want to play and this way to play will be to try to move the ball quick, try to be sure we create chances, try to be sure that we are strong enough in defence and that we have balance. Balance is the key word for everything. Balance means that you can attack and at the same time defend well or you can defend and play counter attack and be a threat for the other teams. We know what we want, we know how to do it. The players I think they are quite happy and in the training sessions I have been impressed because they have been training really well. Today we had a great training session with the players moving the ball really quick and trying to do things we were talking about and they did really well.”
Everton’s short-term managerial reigns in recent years have become a discussion point surrounding the club. And Benitez admits that time is hard to come by, but he has felt the support of everyone at the club so far.
Rafa Benitez concluded: “To be fair in modern football that [time] is quite difficult to get. But what I can say to you is that from day one they have been very supportive and everyone on the board is trying to help and everyone here at the training ground. It is what you are expecting – there is a new manager and they will try to be sure that everything is right. Now we have to do what every season you try to do, which is improve your squad, improve your staff and then you are ready for the first games. After that, if you win everybody will be happy and you will have more support. If not, you have to carry on and make sure you get results and then it will be easier for me or anyone to enjoy the time.
