rafael benitez manager
Everton will “continue advising our players” about Covid safety after five players were ruled out of the opening game of the season. New manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed that a group of players, which includes James Rodriguez, will not play against Southampton because they are isolating. Benitez would not confirm the identities of the remaining four players but did say that two of Moise Kean, Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, were also having to isolate. The Spanish coach did, however, say “they are senior players and they are under control at the moment.” Benitez, who did confirm that Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are available for the game at Goodison, says the club are providing the players with all of the up-to-date Covid safety advice but with the country lifting restrictions, it is not easy to “control everyone”.
Rafa Benitez said: “We are trying everything to ensure we have some control with the social distance and the mask and everything. Then, after we have finished here, they go to see their friends and family and have dinners and it is not easy to control everyone. Obviously the risk is there but the only way for us is to continue advising our players, continue telling them what they have to do, how they have to do it. Hopefully, it will be fine. When you see from outside, I was in China [when manager of Dalian Professional] and the control was so strict that it was easier. Here, everybody wants some freedom and it is impossible to control everything at the same time. The only thing we can do – and I think the club is doing a great job on that – is to advise the players and guide them in the best way possible.”
