• Chelsea manager called Everton 'small team' while at Liverpool
• Benítez expects 'tough game' on Sunday
Rafael Benítez is bracing himself for a hostile reception at Everton on Sunday after a previous barb at the Merseyside club when he was in charge of Liverpool.
Benítez, the interim Chelsea manager, will take a team to Goodison Park this weekend for the first time in more than three years. In 2007 Benítez branded Everton one of the Premier League's "smaller teams", something that provoked a furious response from Liverpool's rivals.
Asked about his jibe ahead of Sunday's game, Benítez joked: "You have a good memory." He said of Everton: "I think they are doing a good job. They are doing well, they have less resources than other teams and are still competing. They are near the top of the table so credit to them."
The Spaniard, who still lives on the Wirral near Liverpool, added: "I have a good relationship with people in the city and what I expect is to find a manager up there with a team who want to win."
Everton are only two points behind third-placed Chelsea and have looked genuine top-four contenders in the first half of the season. They have lost only two league games – the joint best record in the top flight – and are one of two clubs unbeaten at home. They are also Chelsea's bogey team, having won the sides' past three league meetings at Goodison Park.
Benítez, who has won on his past three league visits to the ground, said: "It is a good team and a tough game for sure. For us, we have to be ready physically as well as mentally for the game. They have been doing well in the past year and we know that Goodison is a difficult place to go to."
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/12/29/rafael-benitez-braces-himself-for-hostile-reception-at-goodison-park/
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