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Rafa Benitez explains why he has taken the Everton job

3 years ago
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A dramatic confirmation on Wednesday that Rafa Benitez is the new Everton manager.

The Goodison club confirming a three year contract has been agreed.

Despite a campaign against the idea and threats against Rafa Benitez by some Everton fans, the former Newcastle United boss still taking the job.

Rafa Benitez explaining below why he took the job.

After over three weeks of talks, Rafa Benitez stating that he has a plan in place for this current transfer window and that has been agreed by Everton.

Newcastle United fans wondering exactly what level of support Rafa Benitez will get, compared to Mike Ashley forcing him to make a profit on transfers in and out when he was manager at Newcastle for six transfer windows.

Rafa Benitez talking to Everton TV:

“It is a privilege to have been given the opportunity to manage Everton.

“Having called Merseyside my home for the last 17 years, I have a very clear understanding of what makes this club so special.

“This club is always striving to be the best. Simply competing in the top league is not enough.

“That ambition and determination to succeed is something I share. I never want to just compete – at every club I have managed I have fought to win. My focus is always on one thing – fighting for the team I am managing. And I will do that for Everton.

“The hard work starts now. It is a challenge I am relishing.

“You can see the ambition is there. This club is growing.

“For me, it is about bringing the winning mentality, being competitive, so everything is in place on the pitch and off the pitch.

“I love the passion of the people behind the Club. I know the city, I know Scousers, I know what it means for every fan here to compete and to have the chance to win. To come to Everton is something that means a lot, for sure.

“You can see the ambition of the owner, of the Board, everybody wants to be better and to go to the new stadium with a massive boost.

“I like to compete. I like to win. I came from the academy at Real Madrid [as a young player and coach], and the winning mentality is already there.

“We [myself and my coaching staff] have won 13 titles because we have this mentality and I still want to win.

“And I have come to Everton because I liked the idea to be competitive again – and to have the chance to compete in every game, to compete against anyone.”

“All my life has been working hard, trying to be successful, and I was lucky enough to be successful in different countries,” he added.

“I will try to do that with my experience, and the knowledge of the city, the fans and the Premier League.

“If you have very good players, it is about managing them. If you have to improve your players, you have to do that and at the same time bring some additions that will give the team more quality – but also the right mentality.

“You want players with the right character, so you can be sure everybody has the same idea to go onto the pitch to give everything. That is what the fans are expecting. We need the fans behind the team and I think they will be.

“Every single club I was there, I was fighting for them. If you analyse things in the context, what you are expecting from your manager is to fight for your club, and I will do that.

“I am here, I will fight for my club, I will try to win every single game, and it doesn’t matter who the opponents are, or the rivals. It is something you have to do, it is your nature, that you have to try to do your best.

“And why a lot of fans in a lot of these cities love me is because I was giving everything for them. If you analyse this in the context, then it is very clear I will do the same for Everton.

“I think Duncan [Freguson]will be fundamental for us. He knows the Club, the knows the fans, he knows the mentality.

“He can work with us [the coaching staff]. We can learn from him and he can learn from us, with the experience we have in different countries and leagues.

“I worked in Spain for years with a Director of Football.

“Marcel [Brands] is a professional. I am a professional. We will work together, we will keep talking, having meetings to talk about the Club’s idea, what we have to do in the future, about players.

“The communication between us has to be fluent and we will be talking with each other all the time. I am really pleased with that [the structure].

“I have already been in contact with him. I have the plan [for Everton’s summer transfer business].”

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