Everton boss Benitez grateful to staff for urging him to take Goodison pitch before kickoff

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Everton boss Benitez grateful to staff for urging him to take Goodison pitch before kickoff

Everton boss Rafa Benitez was grateful to club staff for urging him to get out onto the pitch before victory over Southampton.

When he walked up the tunnel ahead of his side's 3-1 victory against Southampton, he was greeted by a large round off applause from all sides of Goodison.

And, after the game, Benitez revealed that he had been advised to take to the pitch pre-match in that manner and show his appreciation to the crowd as well.

He said: "I have very good advisors at the club, they told me that they always used to introduce the new manager, before the game, to the fans and they asked me.

"I was happy with the idea - like I said, I have nothing to hide, so. I have been successful because I am a professional, I was always very competitive, and I will be very competitive until the last minute here."

Benitez also said: "We have been talking too much about that [fan response].

"In the end I think the fans they appreciate that I am a professional, and I will fight for the team, I will fight for the club, I will fight for them until the end.

"So they know that is my way, and hopefully they will be happy the rest of the season, so in football the way to keep people happy is to win games."