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Phil Jagielka: 'Rafael Benitez needs a fast start at Everton'

Phil Jagielka: 'Rafael Benitez needs a fast start at Everton'
© Reuters
The club are set to confirm the controversial appointment of the former Liverpool boss.

Former Everton captain Phil Jagielka has warned Rafael Benitez he faces a “rocky start” at Goodison Park.

The Spaniard was appointed on a three-year contract on Wednesday, becoming the first former Liverpool manager to take charge of their city rivals.

However, the controversial appointment has not been well received by a section of the fanbase, whose animosity stems from Benitez’s “small club” jibe after a 2007 Merseyside derby, although he has since sought to clarify he was referring to them having the mentality of a small team in their approach to the game.

Jagielka said the best way for Benitez to win over the dissenters was to make a big impact early on.

“He will need to get off to a fast start and make a couple of marquee signings to smooth over, potentially, a little bit of a rocky start,” he told Sky Sports News.

“If he gets a good start and the right results they will get behind him because that’s the sort of club Everton is.

“The hierarchy at Everton have decided to go with Rafa, it is a controversial decision to say the least.

“If we take away what club he used to manage and that side of history, as a coach and a manager he has performed at the top level.

“They are getting a very competent man in – the only issue is there will be elements within the Evertonian family who won’t be happy seeing him in the dugout.”

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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