Rafa Benitez accepts that at Everton he was thinking of Liverpool

That romanticism in football that speaks of loyalty and love for a single institution has sometimes been misinterpreted from many points of view, for while a fan is not obliged during his lifetime to change those colours with which he feels identified, those who shape football around the world know only too well that overnight that relationship can end, as Rafael Benítez experienced during his time as Red at Anfield and Blue at Goodison Park.

Rafa Benítez was considered by the Reds to be a good manager, winning three trophies as Liverpool manager between 2004 and 2010 (Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup), seeing him leave the institution for new challenges in Italy, Spain and China, returning during those years to England with Newcastle United and Everton, his most recent team of which he is no longer a part.

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In July 2021 the Spaniard took the reins at Everton, but was sacked six months later; the Spaniard says he has no regrets about taking charge at Goodison Park, but also admits he had some trouble making decisions because of his past with Liverpool, saying he could not propose certain adjustments as it would be thought that he only wanted to modify the institution.

From the moment the proposal was handed to him, Benítez knew that at a certain point he would not be able to make certain decisions because of his red past, but he still decided to accept the challenge and take charge of the worst Everton team in a long time, winning just five of 19 games while he was in the dugout, being relegated from his position after losing 2-1 to Norwich, not to mention losing the Merseyside derby by a landslide.

<strong>Benítez was a Champions League winner with the Reds</strong>

The Spanish coach himself admits that in any other institution he could have suggested certain changes in order to improve the performance of the group, but at Everton this was not even an option because despite being the ones who made the invitation to Benitez to be their coach, to a certain extent they also saw him as an enemy for those years he was at Liverpool, not knowing how to differentiate the high commands of the passionate and the professional, concluding that season of 2021-2022 barely saved from relegation by 4 units.