Didi Hamann: Rafa Benitez will be loved by the Everton faithful
Everton fans will soon warm up to the idea of having Rafa Benitez at the helm, claims Liverpool legend, Didi Hamann.
The Toffees made an official announcement confirming the appointment of the Spaniard on Wednesday despite there being protests by Evertonians who vehemently opposed the appointment.
Benitez is a widely unpopular figure on the blue half of Merseyside having managed Liverpool in the past and guided them to a Champions League victory.
Hamann said that he understands the apprehension surrounding Benitez, but assumed that within six months the fans would start loving him.
He told 2fm’s Game On (an RTE radio broadcast), “I think he will be loved by the Everton faithful. He’s a top-class manager. I think he’s a genius.
“I think the Everton fans in about six months’ time they will speak differently and maybe regret some of the things they have said about him.
“I know how sensitive the situation is in Liverpool, but he left there (Liverpool) a long time ago and I think he will do very well there (at Everton).”
Bold of you, Didi
He may be right about Benitez being a success at the club, but we’re not suddenly going to warm up to him after a few months if the results aren’t that great.
Farhad Moshiri went for such a divisive appointment probably because he believed that the Spaniard would be the right one to take the club forward, so if he doesn’t, the fans are going to be quick in voicing their displeasure.
While most Evertonians are unhappy with the appointment and would probably still undo it if, given the chance, there’s a feeling that Benitez will be back by at least a sizeable majority of the Goodison Park faithful next season.
At the end of the day, fans want their teams to do well and if he’s delivering the results then it doesn’t matter which clubs he managed in the past or what his thoughts on Everton were a few years ago.
In other Everton news, Toffees ace gets his way after making demand, negotiations moving forward – report
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