Rafa Benitez has talked at length in the local papers about one particular player, Ayoze Perez, who did not play well against Crystal Palace last time out in the close 1-0 win.
So some of us are wondering who else can play in that number 10 position – and maybe Mikel Merino or even Matt Ritchie could do the job?
But the manager has talked about his countryman Ayoze and how he is doing a great job for the team and that he is a clever player.
Rafa then talks about David Silva of Manchester City and how he came through the Youth System when Rafa was the manager there.
Rafa gave Silva his Valencia debut when he was only 17 years old, and he has become a world-class player for Manchester City and for Spain.
Ayoze Perez – in action against Tottenham
David signed on for Manchester City from Valencia back in 2010 and he has played 319 games for them with 52 goals and 109 assists.
That’s some record!
This is what Rafa has said as reported in the Chronicle (it’s a very long interview):
“I can read the comments about Ayoze Perez and people say this or that.” “He is doing well and he is a clever player, he has good movement.”
“He didn’t play well the other day against Crystal Palace – He knows. We know.”
“He had two or three situations where he could do better, and he was wrong, still though he is doing a great job.”
“The understanding between him and Joselu, and the midfielders and the rest of the team, is quite good.”
“When I talk about a clever player, it doesn’t mean he has to control and put the ball in the top corner.”
“No, he has good movement. He knows when he has to go, press and regain, or when he has to attack and do runs behind the defenders. He stays between the lines.”
“He’s giving us something that maybe we needed.”
“Some people talk about Mohamed Diame. He’s a great worker, and, physically, is bigger and stronger so he can give us something different.”
“I’ve heard that ‘we need a proper No 10’.”
“We knew from the beginning that we needed to improve some positions, but not because the players we have there are not good, it is because we wanted to bring better players to be sure we had the competition.”
“This position, the No 10, is a player, normally, that – I will give you an example.”
“Silva, a player that understands the game and is always on the ball, he can see the pass and the assist.”
“They don’t see Ayo as this kind of player but he’s not this kind of player, but he is clever enough to do a job and he’s doing a great job.”
“Sometimes playing better or worse, but doing a great job, not just when we are defending, but sometimes when we have the ball.”
“He has some good movement and is creating space for the others, doing the runs that will give the others more time on the ball.”
“In football, the good thing is that you have a team. Depending on one, maybe the others are doing well.”
“Silva made his debut in Valencia when he was 17 with us. Since then, I know him. He’s a player that you know is very clever.”
“Do you need a Silva? Yes, but, because you cannot get this player, what you need is a team around your players so you can get the points.”
“That’s it. We have a team because the players realize that we have to work as a team, as a unit.”
It’s interesting to think what David Silva could do for us if he played at Newcastle.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
41 comments so far
martoon
Oct 30, 2017 at 12:41 PM
Comment #41expatmag – Don’t be too hasty – after all Jib speaks Spanish so maybe Jib is an acronym something like Judge in Benitez? 🙂