Andy Goldstein: Tottenham fans will be devastated with Everton hiring Rafa Benitez
Tottenham fans will be “devastated” by the news that Everton are close to hiring Rafa Benitez as their next manager, according to Andy Goldstein.
As reported by The Mirror, Farhad Moshiri is close to controversially appointing Benitez, 61, as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement at Goodison Park.
TalkSPORT host Jason Cundy claims a Benitez move to Everton would be similar to when Jose Mourinho was hired by Tottenham after becoming a legend at Chelsea.
As shown in a clip on talkSPORT’s Twitter account, Cundy said: “It will [damage his reptuation] in some minds.
“When Jose went to Spurs there were Chelsea fans that were that were, ‘you just don’t go to Spurs as a Chelsea manager, you just don’t do that after what he achieved at the club’.
“There’s a lot of water that’s passed under the bridge for both clubs since then.
“Liverpool have gone on to be Premier League champions, they won the Champions League again.
“Benitez will still be a legend at Liverpool for what he achieved.
“I actually think it’s a good appointment for Everton.”
Goldstein then interjected to say: “I think Spurs fans will be devastated. “
Cundy continued to speaks about how good a hire Benitez will be for the Toffees, saying: “I think it’s a really good appointment and Everton fans, if it happens, just make peace with it because if it happens, Benitez was the manager of my club (Chelsea) and I liked him. I interviewed him many times after games. I like the way he spoke.
“He had a lot of baggage when he came to Chelsea because of some of the things he said and the vast majority of Chelsea fans weren’t having him at any price. None of them.
“They booed him and looking back, he won the Europa League with us so he’s part of Chelsea’s history now.”
Will Spurs fans be gutted?
Tottenham’s managerial search has been a bigger joke than ours.
In fact, a lot of clubs have struggled to hire managers this year with Celtic taking over 100 days while Everton, Spurs, West Brom and Crystal Palace still remain without a manager despite reports saying that they have come close.
On Thursday, BBC Sport reported that Spurs’ talks to hire Paulo Fonseca had failed as they aim to find Mourinho’s permanent replacement in North London.
Since then, the Guardian has reported that the Londoners have opened talks to hire Gennaro Gattuso after he quit his job at Fiorentina after 22 days as manager.
Goldstein says Tottenham fans would be devastated about hiring Benitez and based on reports suggesting they are heading towards Gattuso, you might have to agree.
Gattuso has just quit a job after 22 days. He’s clearly someone who upsets the applecart behind the scenes.
The 43-year-old had a great playing career but as a manager, he won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2018/19 and that’s in.
Compare his record with Benitez’s and you’ll see why Goldstein is probably right.
In other Everton news, this Toffees ace has posted a picture of himself in a Leicester shirt on social media.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on Everton and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.