Rafa Benitez is vowing there will be no compromise on the demanding management style that is coaxing notable improvement from a number of Everton players.
The Club’s top-scoring forward, Andros Townsend, this week revealed manager Benitez was challenging him to do better even in the immediate wake of a match-defining performance against Burnley last month.
And it was to the example of Townsend that Benitez turned when underlining the imperative of consistently seeking to adjust and improve.
For Benitez, the task is to try to oversee growth in every corner of the Club. Analysing football matters, specifically, the Spaniard’s influence on Townsend and Abdoulaye Doucoure and Demarai Gray, among others, is evident after only three months in the job
“Good professionals improve,” began Benitez.
“You try to analyse little details that can make them a little bit better and they will improve.
“I remember some players in the past complaining [about continual demands] but after [retiring] they saw it was their best years.
“They were scoring more goals and playing much better football.
“Andros is an intelligent and hard-working player and trying to improve his game every day.
“He is a great example for players like Anthony Gordon, Demarai Gray and Alex Iwobi. They play in the same position and we work together in terms of movement and the understanding of the game, both from offensive and defensive points of view.
“I always say to players that you remember the good teachers in your school who pushed you, not the nice ones who allowed you to do whatever you wanted.
“As a manager, you need to try to improve your staff, yourself, your team, your players, the press department, as much as you can.
“Everything has to get better and better, if you want to compete and have a chance to win.
“You have to push a little bit and the players will improve."
The indefatigable Townsend's excellent start with Everton has inevitably garnered plenty of attention.
Midfielder Doucoure, however, is also generating his share of headlines.
Released from an anchoring role, the Frenchman needed only six Premier League games to match the two goals and three assists he contributed in the entirety of last season.
“When you sign for a new club, you try to analyse your players,” said Benitez.
“You look at their strengths and weaknesses and then see if you can improve something, or reinforce something they are doing well.
“It is very clear with Doucoure that he has the energy and potential to get into the box. I have told him so many times to just go, 'Don’t drop off too much because you can be a threat in attack'.
“We were joking about scoring five goals [this season], he has already scored two.
“He wants to play well for the team and is trying to score more goals. I am pleased because that is an extra motivation for any player.”
The goals of Doucoure and Townsend have been especially valuable of late, as Everton try to plug the scoring void created by the absence of both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.
That premium attacking pair will be missing again at Manchester United on Saturday, when Benitez’s side will encounter a player renowned for leaving no stone unturned to capitalise on a God-given talent.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his sixth goal since returning to United to break Villarreal hearts on Wednesday.
But Benitez, who managed the Portuguese at Real Madrid, insists to focus only on stopping Ronaldo would invite a star-studded forward line to wreak havoc.
“I think Cristiano is a great professional, with his age he’s doing really well,” said Benitez, whose most recent success at Old Trafford came with Chelsea in May 2013.
“But you can’t just focus on one player, even if he is as good as Cristiano.
“We need a gameplan to try to stop them and then be positive in our approach to try to score goals. It’s not just Cristiano, the others can score goals.
“It [plan] is to concentrate from the first minute until the last, to present a team that can compete and get the three points.
“We will try to be strong in defence and try to score goals.”
