"One of the few good things that Rafa did" - Journalist drops interesting claim over Everton ace

Pushing Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure further forward was one of the few good things Rafael Benitez did during his short spell at Goodison Park, claims journalist Paul Brown.

While he was sacked in the end, Benitez started this season strongly, with Doucoure playing a huge part.

Doucoure is a more defensive-minded midfielder, with the 29-year-old sometimes playing the holding role for Everton following his £20m move from Watford in 2020.

However, at the beginning of this campaign, he was given a license to get forward by Benitez, which he took full advantage of.

In games against Southampton, Leeds United, Burnley, Norwich City and Manchester United, he scored two goals and provided four assists as Everton got off to a good start, taking 11 points from those fixtures.

The Frenchman’s new role did not go unnoticed, with Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer praising him after that 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

“Rafael Benitez has given him more freedom and he is thriving,” Shearer said when naming his Premier League Team of the Week for matchday 7. “The Frenchman’s bursting run to set up the equaliser in Everton’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United is typical of his displays this season.”

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Like Shearer, Brown was also impressed with what he saw from Doucoure earlier in the season, suggesting that Benitez’s management of the player was one of the few things he got right at Goodison.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Daily Star journalist said: “Rafa let Doucoure get involved in the action a bit further forward this season and he turned into a goalscorer. He was leading the break.

“He’s a runner who can play that sort of box-to-box role, but freeing