Rafa Benitez insists he does not feel under any added pressure after his Everton side were booed off after heavy Watford defeat – as he admits he understands the fans’ frustration
- Rafa Benitez does not feel under extra pressure after Everton loss to Watford
- Toffees let in four goals in final 12 minutes to go from leading 2-1 to losing 5-2
- ‘Football is very emotional so you can understand the frustration,’ he said
- A second viewing of game gave Benitez a clearer view of what went wrong
Everton manager Rafael Benitez insists he does not feel under any additional pressure after his side were booed off against Watford last weekend.
The Toffees conceded four goals in the final 12 minutes to go from leading 2-1 to losing 5-2 as the Spaniard’s side lost back-to-back home matches.
Benitez’s Liverpool connections made him a controversial appointment at Goodison Park, and after a good start which helped get doubting fans onside, supporters voiced their anger after seeing a second successive defeat.
Rafa Benitez said he understands why Everton fans booed the team off the pitch last week
Everton conceded four goals late in the game to go from winning 2-1 to losing 5-2 at Goodison
‘Football is very emotional so you can understand the frustration. I was really disappointed after the game so you can understand the frustration of the fans and what we have to do,’ said the manager.
‘My job is to be sure we analyse what is going on and try to find the solutions. We are working on that and this is just part of the job.
‘After so many years I am used to doing it.’
Benitez admits last weekend’s match did not get any better on second viewing but it at least gave him a clearer view of what went wrong and why.
Lucas Digne and Salomon Rondon look on in disappointment after the 5-2 defeat to Watford
‘The first thing was to analyse why, after winning 2-1, we could concede in the way we conceded,’ he said.
‘We did really bad, that’s the first analysis. Why is very clear: we didn’t win tackles, we were in bad positions, we didn’t attack the ball when we had to defend – too many things when you put them together.
‘I think it is something they can understand and maybe it is not something difficult to correct.
‘You have to make sure you are strong enough. It depends on each player and the character and characteristics of each player, but there are some principles we have to do well and we have to go back to the basics.’