Guardiola: 'Many things can happen' in Premier League race
Evertonboss Rafa Benitez has shunned reports about Wayne Rooneysucceeding him by insisting that the club’s board are backing him despite the poor form. It has been claimed that the Toffees had prompted initial talks with former striker and Manchester United legend Rooney over taking on the manager’s role.
Everton boss Rafa Benitez insists he has the backing of the board (Image: GETTY)
According to the Sun, Everton’s board have already made contact with the Derby boss over yet another return to the club.
Rooney enjoyed two spells at Everton as a player, either side of his trophy-laden 13 years at Man Utd.
However, Benitez has revealed that he speaks to majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri daily and that he has the backing of the Everton board.
“I was talking with Mr Moshiri this morning. I have meetings with the chairman, with Denise [Barrett-Baxendale], I have conversations with them and they are supporting me,” Benitez said on Wednesday.
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"They know... I will say something I've said before: They have experience changing managers, they have experience trying to adapt things and it was not working.
"I don't know if you're an Everton fan, but which is the feeling of the last years for Everton fans? Success, or frustration?
"You know the answer, I have a lot of friends who are telling me the same.
"The problems are not just something you can fix in five months, they know you need time and they know we are going in the right direction.
"One thing is what you can see on the pitch every weekend. The fans at the beginning could see what we were looking for - the intensity, the commitment, the way we were playing.
Everton reportedly approached Wayne Rooney about possibly succeeding Rafa Benitez (Image: GETTY)
"Everybody was delighted, then after the frustration of some years they could see we were going in the right direction."
Everton were beaten 3-1 by Crystal Palace on Sunday – just as it seemed as though they had turned around their form by beating Arsenal 2-1 last Monday.
Benitez faces a tough couple of games as he bids to arrest Everton's slump in form, with a trip to Chelsea on Thursday preceding a clash with Leicester.