Rafa Benitez has hinted at a further breakdown in his relationship with fans favourite Lucas Digne, after the defender pulled out of his squad with sickness.
The Everton manager revealed that after dropping Digne for the past two matches following what was reported to be a bust up between the pair, he HAD selected him to start on Thursday.
In a training game on Tuesday, Benitez gave a run out to his chosen first XI for the visit to Chelsea and the Frenchman was in it. But then he reported being sick the following morning.
And asked if he believed that Digne was truly ill, the Blues boss responded with a hugely pointed reply: “It is not that I believe or not,” he said.
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“I have been in football for so many years and I have so many experiences similar to this one and it is a question of making a decision.
“I have to be sure that the players that will be there tomorrow want to be there and they want to fight for the club and that’s it."
Benitez explained that he had run through his potential line up for the crucial visit to Chelsea, in a training game to practice the tactics he will employ at Stamford Bridge.
“Lucas Digne is a good player, he was an important player for us and yesterday we did a training session and he was in the 11 starters and today he said he is ill and not available for tomorrow.”
There have been some serious suggestions that the player now wants to leave, after questioning the manager’s set up and style.
And asked directly if Digne had asked for a transfer in January, Benitez replied: “I cannot talk about my conversation with him.
“What I can say is that yesterday he was in the 11 starters and the idea (to play), today he is ill and is not available. Thinking about the future, I just have to concentrate on the next game.”
There was better news for Benitez with Allan training after missing the visit to Palace with injury, and again apparently pointedly, the manager said:
“It doesn’t matter if he has any issues, he told me this morning he is ready to (play for) the team because he is a warrior, a fighter.”
Benitez also revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also back training after a three month absence, and could return soon.
