Rafa Benitez is a popular figure in Spain, and he has been interviewed by the Madrid outlet Marca.
He is always in demand in Spain since he is one of the best Spanish managers and has managed Villareal and his hometown Real Madrid in Spain.
The good news is that Rafa always seems to talk positively about Newcastle United and how everybody associated with the club have pulled together for the sake of Newcastle United over the last two seasons.
Rafa Benitez – very proud of what he’s done at Newcastle
This is some of what he has said in Marca:
“Many people ask me if this is more difficult than winning the Champions League with Liverpool, it’s not comparable.”
“The League is regular, saving Newcastle means that many things have been done well for a long time.”
“Sometimes people do not appreciate the difficulty. There are teams with smaller names, but with more money to sign players.”
“Newcastle have not spent that much, they have had a surplus in signings with these anecdotes one can almost say that it is a miracle.”
“Newcastle’s feat is better understood, perhaps, if it is limited to 2018: it is the fifth team that has scored the most points.”
“The keys have been the illusion, the dedication, the eagerness to improve and the communion between the public and the players.”
“This team has achieved the maximum that it could achieve with its technical level.”
“The greatest joy that you can have as a coach when you have already won everything, it is to see how your players improve.”
“The fans know about the Premier League’s difficulties, they value the work we have done and they consider us and my team important.”
“I knew that if it was done well it could mean a great recognition to a coach who in different championships, in different situations, gets results.”
“And not someone who is lucky and wins titles because he has a good team.”
Newcastle played 17 league games in 2018 and we managed to get 25 points.
Rafa makes some great points there and one is that managers of top teams sometimes seem to be successful only because of the great players they are managing.
But Rafa has shown this season how he took a bunch of players and made them into a team who fought in every game and were a credit to Newcastle.
It was a joy to watch the Chelsea game again yesterday and from the very first whistle we outplayed and outfought the Blues.
Three or four top players put into that side of Sunday and we could be a very good team.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 15, 2018 at 10:12 AM
Comment #1We certainly do need goals from midfield as well as strikers so its good we are being linked with wingers who score goals!
Rafa signed a guy from the dutch league for Napoli who is a goal machine called Mertens so hopefully we can get another player who can do a similar job for us!
SuperShearer
May 15, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Comment #2You listening Mike? Mike? Mike? Mike? Mike? Mike? MIKE?!
RobLeenio
May 15, 2018 at 10:16 AM
Comment #3Jail, interesting point you make about players not signing until Rafa signs. Of course, there is a different take which is that there is a deal agreed in principle and Rafa has said that he will sign if certain deals are completed at the start of the transfer window.
In which case, the conversation would be more like:
Top transfer target: Will you be here next year.
Rafa: Yes, if you sign I guarantee I will be here next year.
Top transfer target: Great, where do I sign then?
As with everything in this negotiation process, it’s all just speculation. I’m still taking encouragement from the fact Rafa is planning as if he’ll be here next season.
Ben Afri
May 15, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Comment #4Anyone know what happened with the predictions we made for this season? I don’t remember who took the predictions…
Jail for Ashley
May 15, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Comment #5RobLeenio,
Aye, that could be a scenario. The manager does seem upbeat about everything.
lesh
May 15, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Comment #6Ashley sees the club as a horse and cart – that means we fans must be like the kid following the with a bucket and shovel, picking up the horse chit!
Jail for Ashley
May 15, 2018 at 10:33 AM
Comment #7I got Perez as the top scorer, just the wrong one.
RobLeenio
May 15, 2018 at 10:37 AM
Comment #8Jail, it’s all playing into Rafa’s hands here, given the transfer window is now opening in two days. He doesn’t need contractual clauses to hold Ashley to account, he’ll be able to measure their intent first hand before making a decision on his contract.
I think the next two weeks will be very interesting. Possibly the two biggest weeks in the recent history of our club, in terms of setting out our future direction.
Or, it could be a complete damp squib, nowt will happen and we’ll all be left gnashing our teeth and calling Ashley and his goons once more.
Ben Afri
May 15, 2018 at 10:38 AM
Comment #9Hahaha @ Jail
I chose Mitro on 11 goals. He got 12…and for Fulham
The next Mike Williamson
May 15, 2018 at 10:40 AM
Comment #10ashley has said we will spend what we generate. so if dubai mickies calculations are right then we have 50m plus sales. so id say 80 but 30 wwill go on wages
Jib
May 15, 2018 at 10:42 AM
Comment #11Ben Afri
It was martoon
He’s waiting for Ed to put up a player
of the season poll
Ben Afri
May 15, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Comment #12@ Jib
Thanks mate. Just thought I missed it.
ilovetoon8788
May 15, 2018 at 11:49 AM
Comment #13Shelvey needs to add goals in midfield to be truly considered an excellent midfielder. He needs to get atleast 4-6 goals a season.
dig-n-dig22
May 15, 2018 at 11:52 AM
Comment #14Robleenio 8
” Rafa doesn’t need contractual clauses to hold Ashley to account”.
Rob, how many times has Ashley publicly bitch slapped Rafa regarding “backing the manager”? look back no further than the last Window. The only thing Rafa has in his favour is the full backing of the fans and we all know what contempt Ashley shows toward us, the fans.