Lucas Digne believes Everton’s decision to sack Rafael Benitez vindicated him.
Digne was sold to Aston Villa just three days before Benitez’s spell in the Goodison Park hot seat was abruptly ended after a dismal run of results.
The France international made 13 Premier League appearances for the Blues but did not feature again after a humiliation by Liverpool in early December.
Now, Digne has outlined the circumstances behind his controversial departure less than 12 months after signing a new long-term deal until June 2025.
“I lived three-and-a-half years of happiness and love with the supporters,” he told L’Equipe via Sport Witness.
“I had, and still have, a great relationship with them, with people at the club, my former teammates But I don’t look back.
“Football is like that. One day everything is fine, the next month it is less so. And you have to make decisions.
“When you are part of the framework, there are discussions with the coach. The relationship we had was not good.
“It was complicated to be excluded from the group for a month. It was an unprecedented situation in my career. But I had my family and my teammates with me.
“I also saw Raphael Varane quite often, as we lived nearby. I took it upon myself. I continued to work on the side, to be behind my friends. I have never refused to play.”
He added: “It was a way for him (Benitez) to protect himself. I never asked for that.
“People who know me at the club know that everything was going very well. I was not the only one to leave, moreover (James Rodriguez, in particular).”
Digne, 28, also revealed that consencus within the Everton dressing room was against Benitez on acount of the former Liverpool manager’s ‘bad philosophy’.
“In relation to the style of play, especially, I thought we had a team that could have a lot more possession, which we had the quality for,” he said.
“He asked me the question, I gave him my answer. I know my place. I felt legitimate to give him my feelings and those of the other players in the locker room.
“The group was unanimous. The sequel proved me right, since he was fired because of the poor results. I think he also had a bad philosophy.
“He didn’t fit at Everton.”