Everton’s Benitez blames Olympics for 4-0 defeat to Manchester United

 as the new Blues boss says the 4-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford today has provided him with a "lot of information" ahead of the season opener against Southampton a week today.

Mason Greenwood opened up the score sheet in the 8th-minute after a dual error by Lucas Digne and Pickford. United scored a second through Harry Maguire before Bruno Fernandes made it 3-0 before the break. Diego Dalot concluded the game with a 92nd-minute goal.

Jordan Pickford, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and James Rodriguez were replaced by Asmir Begovic, Fabian Delph, and Anthony Gordon at half-time.

Asked about his half-time substitutes, 

Benitez

 told 

: 

"Some of them were planned.

"We needed to give some minutes to some players and also see them on the pitch in a specific game and level. And, also, there was a lot of information for the next game."

"Normally, when you have time you can get to know the players and they can get to know how you want to play," he said.

"This pre-season has been a little bit special with players away, with the Olympic Games, with the Copa America and with the Euros. Too many things to analyse properly but, at least, these kind of games give you an idea of what to expect or what you have to change.

"We conceded goals that we maybe could do better, obviously. But at the same time we reacted a little bit in the second-half and had some chances.

"But, overall, it was not a great performance and it is something you have to learn from and try to improve things for the next game, which is the most important one."

Asked about the positive contribution of Tom Davies, went onto add:

 "As I said before, it's not about individuals, it's more about the team.

"I think he did well. The main things I'm asking our players is to have some intensity, some character, some desire, some commitment on the pitch.

"And after, try to do the other things. I think he has that for sure."

Follow 

for the