Don Hutchison expects Everton appointment of Rafa Benitez to end in tears
Everton brought in Rafa Benitez as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement in June, and Don Hutchison is convinced his appointment will end in tears.
The Spaniard was not a popular candidate amongst most Toffees fans, but owner Farhad Moshiri went for him in the end despite the protests and outcry on social media.
Benitez has been tasked with making Everton a top-six side after his predecessors failed, and Asmir Begovic, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend have been snapped up so far this summer.
Nevertheless, Hutchison sees the club struggling this season given the quality of the other teams vying for Europe.
Asked by Chris Sutton on BBC 5 Live Sport whether he thinks appointing the former Reds boss is a catastrophic call, the ex-Toffees man replied as posted on their Twitter account: “In all honesty, I think it ends in tears and I don’t know when. I don’t know how early or how long because it might not be a Rafa Benitez Everton-Liverpool scenario.
“It might just be a scenario where you think right, Everton want to be in the top six, but they are competing with a top-four who we think is going to be Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
“The task to get Everton into the top-six is a hard one. The signings are good ones, but how does he get this club into the top six this season? I think that is a massive ask.”
Tough ask indeed
We are optimistic of our chances under the Spanish tactician, but we do not see Everton challenging for the top-four with his current squad.
With the likes of Leicester City, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Arsenal also looking to break into the top-six, the battle for European football is going to be very tough this season.
Benitez has taken up a very tough challenge, and he should be commended should he manage to get us into the top-seven.
With three weeks to go in the summer transfer window, the Toffees are yet to make any marquee signing capable of massively improving that squad.
Gray and Townsend could end up being regulars, but they are not capable of making us title challengers, are they?
James Rodriguez and Moise Kean could end up leaving, and the long-term future of Richarlison is not guaranteed either.
We are not able to make key squad changes given Financial Fair Play rules and the need to balance the books, and Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester United did not look good.
Benitez will have no excuse, though, and we are keen to see how this squad fares under him amid all the pressure.
In other Everton news, France-born powerhouse wants to quit club after Toffees approach.
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