Everton fans give Rafa Benitez warm welcome against Southampton
Rafa Benitez started life as Everton manager with a 3-1 Premier League victory over Southampton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
While most Toffees fans were initially against the appointment of the Spaniard, he received a warm welcome in the first home game of his tenure.
According to The Athletic journalist Greg O’Keeffe, there were no boos when Benitez’s name was announced ahead of the clash.
He posted on his personal Twitter account: “Considerable applause for Rafa Benitez as the stadium announcer gives him a warm welcome. No boos.”
Class
We have all come to accept the decision of the club, and we now have to get behind Benitez despite his Liverpool past.
A defeat could have triggered a negative reaction from the fans at Goodison Park had the team finished the game with how they played in the first-half.
We saw two different Everton sides today, and we have to admit that some smart decisions in the second-half and whatever the Spaniard said in the dressing room during the break worked.
Beginning his reign with a victory is a huge boost for him, and hopefully, the players can keep delivering like they did today.
There is still a lot of work to be done, though, and Benitez knows.
He could do with one or two creative additions to this squad with James Rodriguez expected to leave.
At the end of the day, every Everton manager will be judged by their results, and the Spaniard is in everyone’s good books at the moment.
We need to see this team deliver their best week in, week out, and just maybe that top-seven finish would not be elusive this season.
In other Everton news, Toffees man shares why he rejected CL club for Goodison project.
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