Usmanov and Moshiri ignore Everton fans over Benitez appointment
Everton fans will surely be stunned to learn that Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri are completely ignoring their disdain towards hiring Rafa Benitez as the new manager.
Ex-Liverpool boss Benitez, 61, is on the verge of an incredible return to Merseyside to manage the Blues with BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty reporting that the Toffees hope to have an appointment sealed within days.
However, the move for Benitez has been met by a lot of anger from Evertonians, who have hung anti-Rafa banners at Goodison Park and made their discontent clear on social media platforms.
Times journalist Paul Joyce has reported on Sunday that not only are billionaires Usmanov and Moshiri aware of the meltdown they’ve caused, but they are also going to ignore it.
Writing on The Times website, Joyce said: “Benítez’s ascension to power at Goodison Park firstly reveals how Farhad Moshiri, the owner, and his business associate Alisher Usmanov, are driving the strategy in the hope that the club will finally be propelled into the upper echelons of the Premier League.
“The two billionaires are not oblivious to the fans’ reaction but have simply chosen to ignore the outpouring in the belief they are hiring a good coach, with a strong tactical understanding and someone who can improve players.
“They are tired of “losing”, according to sources, although the hire ’em, fire ’em policy and haphazard manner in which previous managerial appointments have been conducted means Everton have been their own worst enemy in terms of on-field progress since Moshiri came on board in February 2016.”
While we aren’t totally against the idea of having Benitez as our next manager due to the success he’s brought to other football clubs in his career and our need for said success, we do appreciate the concerns of our fellow Evertonians.
We saw with Tottenham and when they were linked with Genarro Gattuso that they bowed to the demands of supporters when they reacted angrily to trying to hire the controversial Italian.
Why are Usmanov and Moshiri simply turning a blind eye to the overwhelming sense of frustration among Everton fans?
Evertonians will surely be stunned by this total disregard for the fans – the same fans who work all week and continue to pump money into the club our of sheer love and passion.
We’ve mostly been supportive of Usmanov and Moshiri but they threaten to derail the relationship they have with fans over this appointment.
Benitez is capable of improving the Blues.
But is he capable of winning over the majority of fans?
In other Everton news, Joyce has also shared a major update on the backroom staff at Goodison.
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