Former Everton manager Rafael Benitez believes 'some players are scared' of the club's fans, The Athletic's Gregg O'Keeffe has reported.

The lowdown

The Spaniard was sacked at the weekend following Everton's 2-1 defeat at Norwich City, who are in the Premier League relegation zone.

The former Liverpool boss, who was only appointed at Goodison Park in July, oversaw just 22 games - seven wins (32%), four draws and 11 defeats.

Since they beat Burnley 3-1 in their fourth game of the season, Everton are bottom of the Premier League form table with only nine points from a possible 45 in that time (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

As per The Athletic, O'Keeffe wrote that, in Benitez's eyes, some members of the team 'buckle under the expectations of the fanbase'. The journalist added in a tweet accompanying that article that "Benitez felt Moshiri listened too much to agents".

The Spaniard is said to be surprised by the timing of his dismissal, which came 'just days' after he was backed in his decision to sell Lucas Digne to Aston Villa.

The verdict

It was clear that Benitez's tenure couldn't go on. During Saturday's defeat at Carrow Road, an incensed Everton supporter even tried to run across the pitch to confront him in the dugout

However, prior to last weekend, he seemed to have Moshiri's full support. The Iranian had just last month claimed that Everton's struggles were 'largely' down to injuries and insisted that Benitez would be supported in the transfer market.

Whoever's to blame for things unravelling, the Toffees find themselves looking for a seventh different manager in less than six years. That suggests that there are some deep-rooted issues to be resolved at Goodison Park.

In other news, many fans flock to reports that a club legend could return to Everton