Rafael Benitez believes he would have transformed Everton's fortunes were he not sacked by the club last season.
The Spaniard took charge on the other side of Stanley Park, following his stint with Liverpool, in a controversial appointment by the Blues to replace Carlo Ancelotti. Real Madrid approached the Italian, instigating a return which opened the door for the then-61-year-old.
He initially signed a three-year deal at Goodison Park but after just six-and-a-half months, he was sacked from his position as the Blues slipped to 15th, six points above the relegation zone. However, Benitez argues he could have turned around their fortunes and injuries to the spine played a part in the run leading to his dismissal.
MATCH VERDICT: Seamus Coleman ends tunnel row, scores Everton stunner and proves Frank Lampard right
READ MORE: Amadou Onana gives update as Sean Dyche explains Everton plan for 'knee injury'
"When you put the money spent and the points together, we were building something - starting with a team who had not been winning for years," he said speaking to the Daily Mail.
"It frustrates, especially when you explain to them the problems you could see when you'd just arrived. You can see the problems with injuries, the salaries of some players and you have to deal with that. We lost players at the beginning. Players with massive salaries who, for 35-40 per cent time of the time, were injured.
"When you analyse with your experience as a professional, you think they will understand. You think they will give you the time to fix the problems. Then when we signed a couple of young players for the future, they fired us.
"We weren't doing well in terms of results but we were building something," he argued. "We always said the second half of the season would be better. When we left, there was one player injured, just Tom Davies.
"They were fit, they were ready. Richarlison was injured two months, we didn't have Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Abdoulaye Doucoure or Yerry Mina for a while.
"These four players were the spine. After that, even with all of it, we were six points above the relegation zone with two games in hand. After it was worse, spending more money. The people, they don't realise it was like that."
READ NEXT:
Neal Maupay steps in during Goodison brawl as Everton ball boy helps Blues seal win
National media spot 'altercation' that briefly halted final whistle celebrations
-
Everton player ratings as Seamus Coleman sensational and three others superb against Leeds
-
Sean Dyche claim questioned as Everton find unlikely hero in win
- Sean Dyche shows Frank Lampard truth as red card theory emerges
