‘Everyone can see’: £20m Everton star says he’s much better since Benitez replaced Ancelotti

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It’s early days, but Abdoulaye Doucoure looks like he might be one of Everton’s best players this season.

The big midfielder has netted two Premier League goals and set up another four in seven games so far under Rafael Benitez.

Benitez has afforded the Everton powerhouse a bit more creative license than his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti.

And Doucoure, a £20 million signing from Watford in 2020, has admitted that he was left frustrated under the legendary Italian coach last term.

He told Everton’s matchday programme ahead of facing West Ham this weekend.

“This season, everyone can see I am able to provide assists as well. So, yes, it was a bit frustrating last season. I wanted to show I could score goals. I sacrificed myself for the team. I made a lot of recoveries and defended well in midfield. It was like that.”

Is Doucoure right?

Well, he’s certainly impressing more as a creative player than he ever did under Ancelotti, yep.

In seven Premier League games under Benitez, the 28-year-old has double the amount of assists that he managed last season – two.

That right there proves that Benitez is getting more out of him as an attacking player.

Question is, is the imbalance causing the Toffees to become a little less solid defensively?

This is where things get interesting because Benitez’s side have conceded eight times in seven outings, which isn’t a disastrous record, but it isn’t a stellar one.

In Everton’s first seven games of last season, when Doucoure operated in a more defensive midfield role, they conceded 10 though.

For now, it doesn’t seem like having a more-adventurous Doucoure is having an adverse affect on Benitez’s side and from his perspective, long may it continue.