‘Embarrassing’ Benitez has ‘paid the price’ after Everton decision – pundit
Rafa Benitez “paid the price” for benching Lucas Digne as Everton were defeated against Brighton, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 61-year-old suffered “huge embarrassment” after excluding the France international once again.
Benitez utilised right-back Seamus Coleman in an unfamiliar left wing-back role as Everton lost 3-2 against Brighton on Sunday (2 January), while Digne sat among the substitutes.
The former Barcelona man was named in the Toffees squad for the first time since reports of a training ground bust-up with the ex-Liverpool boss last month.
Whelan insisted the latest snub is yet another “kick in the face” for Digne.
“Benitez and Everton paid the price for putting a square peg in a round hole there,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“Putting Seamus Coleman in on his wrong side when he’s got Digne sat on the bench – really?
“Digne is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. It just seems a bit of a kick in the face to him and a huge embarrassment for Rafa Benitez.
“He’s not getting the results right now, so every time he gets a decision like that wrong – it’s going to come back to hurt him even more.”
Everton have already moved to add another left-back to their ranks in the winter transfer window.
The Toffees announced the signing of Vitaliy Mykolenko on Saturday.
The Goodison Park side paid a reported £18million for his services.
Benitez’s side sit 15th in the Premier League after 18 games – just eight points clear of the drop zone.
In other news, Premier League strugglers are plotting a raid for Everton defender.