Brendan Rodgers sends ‘difficult’ message to Everton boss Rafa Benitez
Brendan Rodgers has sent Everton manager Rafa Benitez an empathetic message during ‘tough’ times at Goodison Park.
Rodgers spoke to the media before the Premier League granted the foxes request to postpone the pair’s meeting for a second time.
The former Celtic manager backed Benitez to turn things around at Finch Farm despite a ‘difficult’ start.
“They started the season well but it was always going to be difficult. A club like Everton, ourselves – if you miss your best players it’s very tough.” Rodgers told ECHO.
“Calvert-Lewin has been out for a long time and he’s one of the best strikers in this league. So it’s been a real challenge for him.
“But he’s a top-class manager, he’s a proven manager. He’ll be confident that once he gets his players back, and he can bring in the players he wants to, I’m sure he’ll do a fantastic job.
He added “I empathise with every manager, especially when it’s clear he’s missing a lot of players and hasn’t yet been able to get the right types of personnel he would want,”
Patience
Rodgers has hit the nail on the head here. Benitez has found himself under a lot of criticism since taking charge of the Toffees, a lot of it unfair.
He has come in to save a sinking ship at Everton which isn’t going to be an overnight glamorous job.
The board tied one hand behind his back in the summer by not backing him financially but now he has the opportunity to build his own squad, things can surely only get better.
Injuries and fitness have been a huge part of this season again with Benitez drawing the short straw.
Not only has he lost the Blues best player in Dominic Calvert-Lewin but key players in this Everton squad have all spent vast periods on the side-line.
It has been a very tough start for the Champions League winner, but he has an abundance of quality and everybody needs to be patient and let him fully settle in.
In other Blues news, Everton star Andros Townsend opens up on injury return risk.