Everton announced Rafael Benitez as the new manager after Carlo Ancelotti left the Goodison dugout on June 1. Yes, Rafa Benitez has managed Everton’s arch rivals, Liverpool, and guided them to continental success.
A faction of Everton supporters will never agree with this appointment and would even despise the Spaniard but in the grander scheme of things, it’s the beloved club that people have to get behind and not the manager.
The ardent Everton fans will continue to love and support the club, experience the making of history or breaking of the legacy, live out the highs and lows but what will remain is their unquestionable loyalty and unwavering support.
Questions keep on unfurling in the mind. Will Rafa Benitez make Everton play some courageous football or will he stick to his pragmatic approach? Is he at Everton just to fill his pockets and spend a gala time or is he here to actually guide Everton to a top six finish? Does he still have it in him to take a team to the zenith? The whirlwind of questions will continue to arise but unfortunately, nobody knows the answer. Only time will tell.
But, for the time being, Benitez means business and will need to strengthen the side which has many deficiencies. The right side needs major surgery, while there is room for reinforcements even in the middle of the park.
If Rafa Benitez was a chef in Merseyside, he’d be looking to cook the perfect scouse. A strong meat base with a mixture of diced vegetables along with flavourful seasoning makes a palatable dish.
When it comes to a football side, each team needs a strong core, along with the right combination of youthful exuberance and reliable experience. There needs to be exciting players in the team to add spice and create moments that can be etched in the memories of the fans for years.
Rafa Benitez needs to make several amends to the team if he is to bring the best out of the squad. In order to achieve that, he not only needs to bring new players in but also offload players who offer little quality or are incompatible with his system. Everton’s ambitions of reaching Europe can only come to fruition if the squad is competent enough to extract results throughout the season. Mediocrity won’t bring the desired victories and results.