Ring master
Player Valuation: £90m
The boss pre Villa P/C
Benitez on Everton's start to the season
I will not say it was perfect because we drew against Leeds, but pretty close to perfection... The connection between players, fans is so good. We are really pleased with everything & hopefully can continue in this way
Benitez on Everton's comeback trait
The other day in the first half, we were not playing well & the fans were expecting a reaction. They were patient... I think, thanks to that belief & the connection with the players, we could do it
Benitez on James Rodriguez/DCL
He's training & these kind of weeks when you train after having a day off is not easy. We will have to see how he trains in the next days
Benitez says DCL "we have to wait some weeks"
Benitez on Keane
Benitez says he was pleased for Michael Keane's confidence after the centre-back's goal against Burnley and that he feels the same for Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray after their strikes on Monday
Benitez on Villa
I think they proved the other day against Chelsea that, for a while, they were very dangerous. It's a team investing money in good players. The manager's doing a good job. It will be a tough game
Benitez on Eveton's unbeaten start
It's a lot of things. The first is to have good players, motivated & committed, to have good staff & people around you to make the right decisions; the support of the fans - all these things together makes you do things well
Benitez on Everton's areas for improvement
I don't like to concede first so we have to improve that... We have had some games where we can still improve in the transition & attacking play. But I'm pleased because we're moving forward, in the right direction
On EFC'S direct style this season
Benitez says he watched games from last season and thought the sides needed more crosses for the Blues forwards. He says football has to be a mix of keeping the ball and "going quickly forward."
Benitez on players
It is important to praise the players when they do well but, at the same time, you have to demand something more - because they can do it
Boss on improving Players
Benitez says managers have to adapt depending on the players they have. He adds that as a manager and a coach, it's his role to also improve the players at the club as well and that a lot of players "have tried to do their best" since his arrival
On winning over Everton fans
Benitez says he will try and do well "until the end." He says that he cannot changes emotions of those who "do not want to change" but think the majority of Blues fans will be pleased with his work so far
Benitez On guarding against inconsistency
Benitez says it's important to praise players who are doing well but also ensure that you are demanding more and keep pushing players in the right way
Rafael Benitez on Demarai Gray
I will not say he is desperate to do well but the fans can be pleased because he will try every day to improve, to score goals. He knows that he has to be consistent. I am supporting him but demanding from him every game
Benitez on Everton's start to the season
I will not say it was perfect because we drew against Leeds, but pretty close to perfection... The connection between players, fans is so good. We are really pleased with everything & hopefully can continue in this way
Benitez on Everton's comeback trait
The other day in the first half, we were not playing well & the fans were expecting a reaction. They were patient... I think, thanks to that belief & the connection with the players, we could do it
Benitez on James Rodriguez/DCL
He's training & these kind of weeks when you train after having a day off is not easy. We will have to see how he trains in the next days
Benitez says DCL "we have to wait some weeks"
Benitez on Keane
Benitez says he was pleased for Michael Keane's confidence after the centre-back's goal against Burnley and that he feels the same for Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray after their strikes on Monday
Benitez on Villa
I think they proved the other day against Chelsea that, for a while, they were very dangerous. It's a team investing money in good players. The manager's doing a good job. It will be a tough game
Benitez on Eveton's unbeaten start
It's a lot of things. The first is to have good players, motivated & committed, to have good staff & people around you to make the right decisions; the support of the fans - all these things together makes you do things well
Benitez on Everton's areas for improvement
I don't like to concede first so we have to improve that... We have had some games where we can still improve in the transition & attacking play. But I'm pleased because we're moving forward, in the right direction
On EFC'S direct style this season
Benitez says he watched games from last season and thought the sides needed more crosses for the Blues forwards. He says football has to be a mix of keeping the ball and "going quickly forward."
Benitez on players
It is important to praise the players when they do well but, at the same time, you have to demand something more - because they can do it
Boss on improving Players
Benitez says managers have to adapt depending on the players they have. He adds that as a manager and a coach, it's his role to also improve the players at the club as well and that a lot of players "have tried to do their best" since his arrival
On winning over Everton fans
Benitez says he will try and do well "until the end." He says that he cannot changes emotions of those who "do not want to change" but think the majority of Blues fans will be pleased with his work so far
Benitez On guarding against inconsistency
Benitez says it's important to praise players who are doing well but also ensure that you are demanding more and keep pushing players in the right way
Rafael Benitez on Demarai Gray
I will not say he is desperate to do well but the fans can be pleased because he will try every day to improve, to score goals. He knows that he has to be consistent. I am supporting him but demanding from him every game
