Rafael Benitez wants Everton to rediscover their ‘intensity’ ahead of the visit of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham this weekend.
Everton’s strong start to the season has faded following a run of three consecutive Premier League defeats, the Toffees having conceded seven goals during recent losses to Watford and Wolves.
Those defeats have come after Benitez’s side lost just once in their opening seven fixtures of the campaign and the Spaniard has called on his side to regain the intensity of their early-season performances.
“Sometimes when you are doing well it is easier for the manager,” Benitez said at his pre-match press conference.
“When it is not going well you need to think how to improve things.
“We started the season really well, the players had intensity and everything the fans were expecting. We have to go back to what we were doing well.”
Everton hosts Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend, the visitors arriving with a new manager at the helm following the appointment of Antonio Conte.
Conte returns to the Premier League after winning league titles during previous spells at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan, with Benitez expecting a tough test against a side motivated to impress the new manager.
“You analyse everything. We know we will play against a very good team. [Antonio] Conte is a manager with experience,” he said.
“Maybe it is not the best moment because with a new manager they have more motivation. We have to be ready. We are capable to react.”
Benitez added that left-back Lucas Digne will hopefully be available for selection, though Everton remain without several first-team regulars with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andre Gomes all remaining sidelined.
