Former Everton star Michael Ball insists that Rafael Benitez cannot copy his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti tactically.
The Spaniard has been appointed as the Toffees’ new boss, after a firestorm of controversy due to his link with Liverpool.
Everton won their opening game of the season, beating Southampton, and drew with Leeds United in a blood-and-thunder clash that saw both teams go hammer and tongs. On Saturday, they beat Brighton 2-0.
Will Benitez succeed at Everton?
Yes!
No!
Ball believes that Ancelotti’s tactics are a prescient warning to Benitez, as he repeatedly set his side up in a negative manner against some of the lower teams in the league.
Indeed, Everton ended last season with a disappointing 10th-placed finish, and a record of 17 wins, eight draws, and 13 losses.
Speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol, Ball warned the ex-Chelsea boss that he simply has to attack teams, and attempt to win every single game they play if he is to win the fans over.
He said: “Especially how Carlo set up against those sides, he was playing five at the back and two sitting midfielders, you can understand it when you’re playing top sides who are very good going forward but when you’re playing teams who are struggling in the bottom half, the way he set up against those sides was a big question mark from a lot of Evertonians.
“So if Rafa does the same and we don’t get the points, I could see the fans turning pretty toxic but if he plays more forward-thinking, goes for the jugular, fast tempo, trying to win football games, and the results don’t work, I think the fans will have more patience with him.”