Wayne Rooney denies conversations with Everton for manager’s job
Wayne Rooney has insisted there have been no conversations between himself and Everton about the manager’s job at Goodison Park.
Rafa Benitez only took over the Toffees in the summer but was under pressure from the start due to his Liverpool connections, and the team have struggled with just one win in 12 Premier League games.
The poor form of the first-team have seen some suggest he could leave the club, with club legend Rooney linked to take over as first-team manager after his stint at Derby County.
While speaking during his press conference ahead of the weekend, Rooney confirmed there have been “no conversations” with Everton and insisted that while he is still an Everton fan at heart he is happy and committed to the Rams.
“I obviously came up through Everton’s academy and I’m an Everton fan,” he said. “I see the reports but I’ve had no communication with Everton.
“As far as I’m aware, they’ve got a manager in place, so for me to discuss anything like that, it’s not my place to do that – and as I’ve said, I’m committed to this club.
“I’ve had no conversations with Everton football club regarding the manager’s job so it’s not even something I’m thinking about.”
Weird choice
While Benitez was an odd choice to take over to begin with considering the reaction of the fans, replacing him with Rooney would be just as odd.
Fans would certainly back him, but he hardly has the greatest relationship with them over the years and he’s very inexperienced in the role.
He just about steered them away from relegation last season after taking over in January and this season without their points deduction they would still be in 19th place in the table.
Luckily it seems to just be all talk right now and Rooney is seemingly not interested in the role right now, but if Benitez is to leave then it would be interesting to see how his answers change.
Ultimately Benitez deserves a bit of time to turn it around and get his squad playing his way and with Everton not seemingly in any immediate danger, the club are doing the right thing in affording him that.
In other Everton news, Rafa Benitez admits youngsters performances could force a rethink of plans.