Andros Townsend has explained in a column on the Everton club website how Rafa Benitez sees his game developing in the centre, than in the wide roles he has built his style around.
Benitez brought Townsend to Goodison Park in July on a free transfer after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of his contract. The 30-year-old had previously worked with the Spaniard at Newcastle United, but only spent three-months together before leaving after relegation.
Townsend has justified Benitez’s decision to sign the former England international with an influential start to his Everton career. He has provided four goals and three assists in eight appearances across all competitions, but Benitez is still demanding more.
Townsend has explained how Benitez wants the 13-cap Three Lions ace to take his game to an even higher level. Believing the Walthamstow-born winger can have an even greater impact on performances by occupying more centralised positions.
“When I scored and supplied an assist against Burnley at Goodison Park, there was no pat on the back [from Benitez],” Townsend wrote. “Rafa came on the pitch at the final whistle and after a quick, ‘Well done’, was telling me what I could have done better.
“I crossed from out wide for Michael Keane to score our first goal. But Rafa doesn’t want me wide. It was great it worked on that occasion, but he is asking me to come infield, to areas where I can be more effective.
“The sort of positions where I picked up the ball to score my goal in the same game. It would have been easy for the manger to say, ‘Brilliant, great goal and assist’. But doing a good job is not enough, Rafa demands the very best.”
Townsend shining under Benitez at Everton
Townsend has been one of the Premier League’s signings of the summer with his early efforts at Everton under Benitez. He has proven to be a game-changing figure at Goodison, with the Burnley match a prime example.
The forward lit up the night with a floating delivery for Keane to head home before firing a rocket. Townsend tormented Charlie Taylor all game and ran at the left-back, cut inside and found the top-corner from 25-yards out.
He was also influential as the Toffees beat Norwich last Saturday, while scoring his second league goal this term. Townsend constantly charged up and down the pitch to cause problems and deny the Canaries chances to produce an upset.
But Townsend still has work to do to fulfil Benitez’s full expectations at Everton, it seems.
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