Daniel Feliciano

Tue 20 September 2022 17:40, UK

Richard Keys has blasted Rafa Benitez for his latest interview after he revealed he couldn’t do the Everton job properly because he’s “a red”.

Benitez was hired as Toffees boss in June 2021 but lasted just 22 games in charge before he was sacked and replaced by Frank Lampard, with fans never taking to him because of his ties to fierce rivals Liverpool.

But after his latest comments in an interview on 20 September with Sky Sports, Keys took to his personal blog [20 September] and slaughtered the Spaniard for his role in the problems Everton have faced over the last 12 months, including his signing of Salomon Rondon.

“After the shambles Benitez left at Everton – he should crawl away and keep quiet,” he said. “But oh no – not Rafa.

“Not for the first time he’s blaming everyone else for what happened at Goodison. He’s opened up on his ‘struggles’. How brave of him. ‘I couldn’t do it because I was a red’ he’s said.

“Is this guy for real? Does he want us to feel sorry for him. His ‘struggles’? Really? Was he the victim then?

“No. Here’s the truth. He wanted the job at Everton for years. It was a nice one for him because he lives on Merseyside. Remember what he told us when he finally got it – that he felt he was doing something for the ‘people of Merseyside’. Pass the sick bag.

“He also got it at the wrong time. If he’d been available he’d have got the Newcastle job back. Oh how that must haunt him. Shame.

“His transfer business at Everton was embarrassing. He landed them with Rondon. Why? Why does he follow Benitez everywhere? (I’ve no idea) He signed a player that couldn’t get into Palace’s best X1. Ok – so Demarai Gray occasionally turns up – but I’m not a fan.

“I know money was right, but Lampard is operating under the same financial restrictions and making a much better go of it.

“No Rafa. Don’t ask us to feel sorry for you. You sold Liverpool fans out. You sullied your reputation as a red. I told you at the time it was an impossible job for you to do. Evertonians didn’t want you. It was never going to work.

“If you now feel full of so many regrets – hand your settlement money back. Apologise for believing it was possible. Apologise for taking the job.

“Why has Benitez started talking again now? Has it anything to do with putting himself back in the market?

“Benitez is a busted flush. If I’m a Leicester fan I don’t want him anywhere near my club. Vardy might be getting on a bit – but he’s still better than Rondon.”

Get him

Keys isn’t usually someone that is associated with speaking sense on subjects such as these, but he’s absolutely on the money with this one.

Benitez was never a good fit for Everton and Farhad Moshiri was warned constantly about the response he would get from fans if he was hired, but he chose to take no notice and do it anyway.

Because of his seven wins in 22 games as manager and just once from September onwards in the Premier League, the club faced a relegation battle and Frank Lampard managed to save the side with just one game to spare after picking up the scraps.

His signings were largely poor under him, although both Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson both have proven to be excellent since he left, and the squad has been largely rebuilt in the summer.

It’s appalling that he can come out after the fact and say what he’s said and if an Everton fan had said what Keys has, they’d be called salty and or bitter for their thoughts. Thankfully though, someone else has said it for us so we don’t have to.