Rafael Benitez is surprised Everton’s journey to Burnley on Boxing Day has not been postponed after being left with simply 9 senior outfield gamers and three goalkeepers to select from due to a Covid-19 outbreak.
Benitez revealed 5 members of his squad examined optimistic following a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on December 16 whereas the Spaniard’s choices are restricted even additional as Brazilian ahead Richarlison is amongst half a dozen injured gamers.
The Toffees sought to have their go to to Turf Moor rearranged however have been rebuffed by the Premier League and now appear to be counting on children to fill their threadbare squad to permit the fixture to go forward as deliberate.
“With the accidents and the positives we had we have been anticipating that the sport could be postponed,” Benitez stated.
“Now I’ve to consider if I’ve 11 gamers match and the place can I put them, so I’m actually stunned that we’re enjoying this recreation.
“The issue is we’ve got 9 outfield gamers obtainable plus three keepers and after we’ve got to herald 5 younger gamers who aren’t even 21 years previous. Evidently they’ve sufficient expertise to play within the Premier League.”
Benitez has to weigh up whether or not to incorporate Dominic Calvert-Lewin from the beginning in opposition to the struggling Clarets, with the England striker sidelined since August 28, initially due to a damaged toe then a thigh drawback.
The membership’s top-scorer final season bagged three targets in as many matches earlier than succumbing to accidents and whereas he has returned to coaching, Benitez wished to know who could be accountable if his star striker broke down once more if he’s rushed again early to fulfil Everton’s quota of gamers.
“It’s fairly harmful for us and perhaps somebody has to take accountability,” Benitez stated. “It’s not me, the supervisor, that wishes to play the very best gamers each recreation.
“These gamers after (being out for) months perhaps they should play 90 minutes so we’re exposing them.
“However somebody has to think about due to the circumstances of this recreation, we’ve got to play gamers that perhaps aren’t prepared or gamers which have some knocks or points, it’s a tough choice for us.
“I’m glad to see Dominic coaching with the workforce and hopefully he could be high-quality. My predominant job now’s to search out 11 gamers in the correct positions that they’ll compete in opposition to Burnley, it’s not straightforward.”
Benitez, who confirmed Lucas Digne could be obtainable after three weeks on the sidelines, insisted Everton comply with all the right security measures in an effort to minimise coronavirus disruption.
Lucas Digne, proper, will probably be obtainable for the journey to Turf Moor (Peter Byrne/PA)
(PA Archive)
But he believes the membership are being punished for doing so and can’t mitigate in opposition to an asymptomatic participant infecting others if they’re in shut contact.
“We comply with all the principles, we do the lateral flows, PCRs, we’ve got the masks and three dressing rooms to unfold out the gamers to make certain we cut back the time that they’re collectively,” Benitez added.
“Some groups shut the coaching floor, we attempt to do issues correctly and perhaps we’re punished for that.
“What we can’t management while you go to a recreation if a participant is optimistic and he has no signs, he can cross the virus to the others. That’s what occurred the opposite day once we performed in opposition to Chelsea.
“You journey collectively, you keep within the dressing room collectively otherwise you keep within the lodge collectively, the chance is greater. Now we have three dressing rooms however on the day of the sport it’s important to keep within the dressing room all collectively.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
