Rafa has given a lot of interviews in the lead-in to the vital game this afternoon against Everton.
The Toffees are in good form, and they played really well last weekend to dent Liverpool’s chance of winning the Premier League for the first time.
Liverpool have dropped points over the last month, and they could only draw 0-0 at Goodison Park.
After Newcastle played poorly last week at West Ham, it’s a chance to get back to our winning ways and get our 5th home win in a row this afternoon.
The big question on Tyneside is if Rafa Benitez will stay at the club past June when his three-year contract runs out.
He has been talking a lot about what he’s done in the past and what he wants to do in the (at least) 10 years Rafa sees himself remaining in football as a manager.
Rafa Benitez – learning all the time
This is what he said in his press conference yesterday when Rafa was asked if he was now a better manager than when he joined Newcastle:
“Yes. When you are getting older, it is the way that you approach things,”
“As a manager, you are talking about new software. Everybody is trying to improve, that is the main thing for me.”
“On Thursday I was watching games and I was analyzing videos, penalties, and VAR.”
“On Friday I was talking with referees and I was talking about the new rules for next year. We try to improve every time, it’s like that.”
“The point about experience, my father was telling me: ‘You can do the same job for 30 years and only have one year of experience. Or you can change things every year and have 30 years of experience’.”
“That is exactly what it has been like for me.”
“When I was 13 years old, I was already thinking of being a coach.”
“Every year, I’m watching games, reading magazines and taking notes, and all my life has been spent this way.”
“This week I received information about new software and I will check that out. Every day I’m learning.”
“Battling relegation in the Premier League, winning promotion from the Championship; I won two promotions in Spain, but it’s not the same.”
“It’s not my country, where I know everything, it’s a different country and I’ve had to learn things.”
“I have gained massive experience, I’m getting better every day because I’m always learning.”
Good words there from Rafa.
We have to hope that owner Mike Ashley will accede to the vast majority of Rafa’s requirements for him to stay on and manage Newcastle for quite a few years yet.
Oh – I almost forgot – we need to win the game this afternoon at home to Everton.
That will cheer everybody up.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
ilovetoon8788
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:23 PM
Comment #1Can’t see us matching Everton. And we looked so poor last week.
Newcastle 0 Everton 2
geordietom
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:30 PM
Comment #2ilovetoon8788 …
are you by any chance a MACKEM ???
sing in the corner
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:39 PM
Comment #38788
I just hope you’re wrong..this week
ben.g
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:39 PM
Comment #4Come on now Geordietom. He has I love toon in his name, can’t be a Mackem! (Lol)
I’d take a 0-0 today but feeling a bit more confident when we’re at home. Tight game, hoping we nick it 1-0
geordietom
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:41 PM
Comment #5ben. g …
ok then a WUM…
sing in the corner
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:44 PM
Comment #6Think i’d prefer Ki to start in midfield today, Shelvey after an hour or so depending on how things are progressing. Neither are match fit so subbing one for the other would work.
But I suspect Rafa may play Diame from the start.
We will see.
sing in the corner
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:44 PM
Comment #7What about a Makwum?
geordietom
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:45 PM
Comment #8sing…
lmfao mate …
ben.g
Mar 9, 2019 at 2:05 PM
Comment #9Makwum lol