Benitez facing fans revolt after Everton latest – pundit
Alan Hutton has claimed Rafael Benitez’s pragmatic tactics are “part of the problem” at Everton this season.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Goodison Park faithful will turn on the Spaniard “very quickly” if performances and results do not improve.
The Toffees have won just once in their last 11 matches, although they came from behind to hold Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Thursday night.
Everton had just 20 per cent possession against Thomas Tuchel (FBRef).
They saw barely more of the ball against Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Wolves in recent weeks.
Hutton insisted the Toffees have the players to play a more attacking and progressive style of football
He suggested fans could turn against Benitez if things do not change.
Discussing Everton’s tactics under Benitez, Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think it is part of the problem.
“But the fans would know before he came in that he likes to be defensively sound. You’d know that. Then you add in the injury list that he’s had, which is difficult for Everton.
“Then there’s the money situation, with £500million spent before him. It was nothing to do with him, he had his hands tied behind his back. He could only spend £1.7million.
“So there are other factors within factors this situation but I think the squad that he’s got at the moment, he could still play a certain way. I get that he’s more defensively minded, we saw it at Newcastle.
“That’s how he likes to line up but I don’t think Everton fans are going to take it much longer. There were always ones that weren’t on his side because of the Liverpool thing.
“When he was winning games, everything was fine. When you go on a run like he’s been on, they’re going to turn very quickly. I think that’s what he’s finding out now.”
Everton currently sit 14th in the Premier League table.
The 2-1 victory over Arsenal (6 December) was their win since September 25th.
In other news, Everton plot raid to sign right-back available for less than £10million in January.