Rafa Benitez yet to make Everton captain decision for next season
Rafa Benitez is still undecided about who the Everton captain will be next season.
Seamus Coleman is the current Toffees captain, and despite praising his leadership skills, the Spaniard refused to confirm that the Irishman will wear the armband for next season.
He believes that he still getting to know his players and can make a decision once that’s accomplished.
Speaking to the official club website, Benitez said, “I am yet to make a decision [on the captain] because it is a new season and you need to know your players. I am quite comfortable with the senior players, any of them.
“They show they have the right mentality when you talk with them. They are keen to learn.
“Seamus is a great lad… any of the senior players can be captain, if they have the character and leadership you are looking for in a captain.”
Interesting decision awaits
It’s interesting to see which direction the Spaniard goes in as one could make a case for and against keeping Coleman on as the captain.
For starters, he’s liked by the fans and is already well respected in the dressing room, so stripping him off the captaincy could be a bold move which he may not react too well to.
Given the fact that Benitez is anything but popular among the Everton fans, not getting off to the right start with your captain could prove to have dire consequences in the future.
On the other hand, Coleman’s 32 and there have been reports [Liverpool Echo] of the club eyeing a replacement or an understudy that could be ready for regular first-team minutes in the 2022/23 campaign.
If Benitez’s plan is to ease Coleman out of the first team, he could look to hand the responsibility to someone he feels he can build the team around and is committed to staying at Goodison Park for the foreseeable future.
We don’t know where Benitez’s mind is at currently, but we’re hoping that he has more clarity on this situation in the coming days and can convey his decision to the dressing room before the new season begins.
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