Digne Criticises Rafa Benitez's Tenure At Everton

Benitez was appointed Everton manager last summer but the 61-year-old lasted just six months in charge of the Toffees before being dismissed in January, with Everton in 16th position on the league table.

Digne was at Everton when Benitez was appointed but after a falling out with the Spaniard in December, he never played for the Merseyside club again and was sold to Aston Villa in the January transfer window.

Benitez signed Ukraine international Vitaliy Mykolenko as Digne's replacement before he was sacked.

Digne has opined that Benitez was a bad fit for Everton from the start.

"I enjoyed three and a half years of happiness and love with the supporters," the France international said in an interview with L'Equipe.

"I had, and still have, a great relationship with them, with people at the club, my former team-mates.

"But I don't look back. Football is like that. One day everything's fine, and the next day, less so."

Regarding Benitez, Digne said: "The relationship we had was not good. It was complicated to be excluded from the squad for a month. It was an unprecedented situation in my career, but I had my family and my team-mates with me."

"I thought we had a team that could have a lot more possession. He asked me the question, I gave him my answer." 

"I felt it legitimate to give him my feelings and those of the others in the dressing room. The group was unanimous. What followed proved me right, since he was fired because of poor results. I think he also had a bad philosophy. It didn't fit at Everton."