Rafa Benitez breaks silence after being sacked as Everton manager and details future plans

Rafa Benitez revealed that he’s hoping to return to management next season after being sacked by Everton.

The Spaniard was axed from the Goodison Park hot seat last month - after just six-and-a-half months in charge.

After making a decent start, he subsequently oversaw a woeful period of just one victory in 13 Premier League matches - with Everton plummeting to 16th in the table.

Benitez was relieved of his duties after a 2-1 defeat at Norwich City, with Frank Lampard succeeding him at Blues boss.

Benitez has given an interview to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness) ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 meeting with Inter Milan - two of his former clubs.

Questions on his Everton time were said to be ‘taboo’.

But the former Chelsea manager did speak about his future towards the end of the interview.

He said he is watching the top five leagues in Europe as he looks to return to work next campaign.

“With my staff, we are watching matches of the main 4-5 European leagues and we do analysis to see, with the latest technologies, big data, the news of the game,” Benítez said.

“We want to be prepared for the future. Now, I need one or two months to recover, but next season I want to start again in a tournament where you can compete. Difficulties don’t scare me. On the contrary.”