I think the majority of the fan base wanted Rafa return too.
Snake,
It is more than just Pepe, it appears a number of players have raised eyebrows and Bellamy has also pitched in within a separate interview along the same lines.
The more general point is if he can get the belief from the players to do what he says? Noone is going to tell me some players are going to stand and listen to his first icebreaker without thinking 'sorry what have you done again?'
Big ask,task and gamble for sure.