Rafa Benitez has insisted he was fighting for his team Liverpool when he labelled Everton a 'small club' after a Merseyside derby in 2007 - and insists he will now fight for the Toffees in the same way.
The Spaniard irked Blues supporters following the fierce Premier League clash 14 years ago when he labelled the team ‘small’ during his time as Reds boss.
Since then, he has attempted to clarify the comments, insisting he meant Everton’s team on the day and how they set-up, believing David Moyes’s side had gone to Anfield to defend.
Now, having been appointed the manager at Goodison Park, the comments were again put to him during his first press conference as Everton boss on Wednesday afternoon.
Asked if he felt they added to the pressure of his new role, he remarked: "I’ve said before, it depends on the context. It’s a long time ago and you are fighting for your club. That is what I will do now.
“If you are the manager you have to defend your club in any context, in this case I will fight for Everton, I will try to do my best every single game and I will try to compete against anyone.
“I’m really pleased that this club is getting bigger and bigger and I am happy with the idea we can challenge and we can compete and I will fight for that.”
Back in 2019, Benitez appeared on an episode of Monday Night Football and explained what he meant by the 'small club' claim.
He said at the time: "I made a mistake when I said it was a small club. What I wanted to say was they are a small team because in this game I remember they had one chance.
"Liverpool fans they were happy and the Evertonians were upset. But I didn't want to say they were a small club, I wanted to say they were a small team.
"Some Evertonians they come to me and say about what I did for the city, we have the charity, and all these things, so I have a very good connection with the city, not just the Liverpool fans.”
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