Anthony Gordons opens up on Rafa Benitez influence
Everton attacking midfielder Anthony Gordon has suggested that Rafa Benitez has turned his career around.
The 20-year-old has been playing really well this season under Benitez and he has been one of the big positives in an otherwise bleak campaign so far.
Gordon feels that he’s “world’s apart” from where he was last season under Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park.
In an interview with Liverpool Echo, Gordon said: “You definitely learn a lot through working with Rafa Benitez.
“He’s relentless on improving you. It’s not that often that you’ll see a manager at that level given what he’s achieved in his career, be so in detail and take the time every day to try and improve you.
“That’s not just with me, that’s with everyone. That’s the best thing I can say about him. For someone with such a high-profile, he’s a really humble man who tries to improve you every day which some managers wouldn’t.
“He’s managed the top players in the world and he knows what works and what doesn’t.
“Just passing that information on to me and then me going out and doing it, you can clearly see the improvements that I’ve been making this season.
“I’m worlds apart from where I was last year so he’s clearly doing something right with my development.”
Huge improvements
Gordon is one of the in-form players for the Toffees this season.
He produced arguably his best performance this season in the 3-2 defeat against Brighton where he scored twice in the Premier League clash at Goodison Park.
He was frustrated with the lack of opportunities under Ancelotti but has looked like a different player under the Spaniard.
Benitez has a knack for giving opportunities to young talents, and Gordon is clearly benefitting practising under him.
The youngster has made eight starts in the Premier League already and has impressed in several cameo appearances.
Gordon produced a superb display against Chelsea, and one can see that his confidence is very high at the moment.
He is getting into very good positions in and around the penalty area and now has the confidence to take shots on target.
Despite his lanky physique, he is very strong and puts in a lot of defensive shifts.
The Toffees have managed only one win in their last 12 games in the Premier League, but the rise of Gordon is highly exciting for the fans.
In other Everton news, this is what Lucas Digne did when Vitaliy Mykolenko was introduced v Brighton
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