Lucas Digne has told EvertonTV that Rafa Benitez wants him to defend more often than in previous seasons, but the Frenchman is happy to do whatever it takes for Everton to thrive.
The full-back is renowned as one of the Premier League’s best attacking defenders for his excellent performances in royal blue.
His Goodison Park stay began in tremendous style after an £18m transfer from Barcelona. Winning both their 2018/19 Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards.
Digne offered four goals and four assists in his debut Premier League term at Everton, and increased his creativity to seven assists in year two. A figure the 28-year-old matched under Carlo Ancelotti last season. But is yet to open his account for either with Benitez in charge.
The £119k-a-week dynamo has occasionally appeared out of sorts since the Spaniard took over at Goodison this summer.
Digne was particularly poor during Everton’s 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa in September, with Matty Cash catching him unalert. While chances to push forward were tough to fashion.
Digne explains Benitez demands at Everton this summer
Digne may have now revealed that Benitez is why his performances have not hit the same level as in past seasons with Everton.
Noting that the Spaniard wants him to defend first, then attack but only if the right chances presents themselves.
“My chances to go forward depend more on the situation in the game than previously,” Digne said. “The manager asked me to be more of a defender this season, to stay back a bit more and keep a better balance for the team.
“Then, sometimes, I can drive forwards, but only when it is right for the team. My first job is to defend, I am a left-back.
“If the manager asked me to defend 99% of the time, I would defend 99% of the time. If what you are being asked to do is for the good of the team, that is it, the end of the discussion. You do the job the manager wants.
“We want to compete high in the table and if I have to defend until the end of this season for us to reach that position – perfect.”
Benitez will want to see more from Digne defensively if that is where the Everton manager wants him to focus.
Like against Aston Villa, he was also poor in defeat to Watford, as the Hornets ran riot at Goodison Park. Giving up a needless foul by the corner flag that led to Joshua King scoring.
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