Rafa Benitez has claimed that the 'excessively brilliant start of the championship' he enjoyed at Everton 'deluded the environment' of the Goodison Park club.
Following the surprise departure of Carlo Ancelotti as the Italian returned to Real Madrid, the Blues turned to the former Liverpool boss in a controversial move. Benitez had previously managed Dalian Professional in China before taking the reins at Goodison.
After starting the campaign well, results quickly fell away and the Spaniard was sacked in January in the wake of a latest dismal defeat away to bottom-of-the-table Norwich City. Everton had one win in their last 13 Premier League matches ahead of Benitez's sacking, losing nine games in that same spell.
