Vinny O’Connor told Sky Sports News (30/06/21 at 5:05 pm) that there was no comment from Marcel Brands at Everton appointing Rafa Benitez because he is currently ‘quarantining’.
On Wednesday, Everton confirmed on their official Twitter account that Benitez has been handed the keys to the Goodison Park hotseat, in what is a surprise appointment by the club.
Brands is Everton’s director of football, so with this Everton squad needing re-shaping, he has to get to work pretty quickly with the new man in the dugout.
And after ‘some alarm’ from Everton supporters at the lack of comment from Brands, a Sky reporter shared why that was the case.
“That is something Rafa Benitez has to address urgently,” said O’Connor. “The state of the current squad and he will have to work in tandem with director of football, Marcel Brands.
“I know there has been some alarm that Marcel Brands hasn’t been quoted today as being part of the appointment of Rafa Benitez.
“The fact is, at this moment, Brands is quarantining after being away on business.”
The trophy-laden coach, Carlo Ancelotti, only managed a tenth-placed finish with this Everton side, so perhaps that hints at more work needing to be done than expected.
There is a lack of depth in the squad, so that needs addressing straight away, especially in the forward areas.
But luckily for Benitez, unlike at his previous Premier League job, Everton’s owner is willing to put his hand in his pocket, so it will be interesting to see what type of names he can pull to the football club.
Ancelotti managed to lure in James Rodriquez from Real Madrid and Allan from Napoli last summer.
And whilst the latter was a strong performer for the club last season, the same cannot be said for the light-footed playmaker, who had an indifferent time.
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