Rafa Benitez has set his sights on winning the Champions League again before he retires at age 70 in 11 years time.
It’s looking that Rafa Benitez is seriously considering walking away from Newcastle because he has not been given the tools to turn Newcastle into a side that can eventually win the Champions League.
He has said he could simply run down his contract at Newcastle when it runs out on June 30th and then wait for another club contacting him.
He has been frustrated at the lack of communication and the lack of progress made on his contract over the last four weeks since he was asked to put his requirements to the club.
This is the worst thing that can happen – Rafa runs down his contract and leaves – and the club will be in a real mess (again) this summer.
Here’s what Rafa has said today:
“What I want is to get a job where I can enjoy competing,”
“If I cannot, maybe I have to stay at home and wait, I don’t know. But at the moment, my idea is to have a team that can compete.”
“When I decided to stay here in the Championship, it was to compete to go back to the Premier League and try to be in the top ten, and after, try to go to Europe.”
“That was my idea in the first year, so okay, we cannot now, but we will try.”
“Now, we are in a situation where we have to decide if we want to achieve something more.”
“I have been here for more than three years, and I was clear from day one. I also think it is what the fans are looking for.”
“We need a team that can compete in the Premier League and not just survive in the Premier League.”
“I think there are ways we can do that, but we have to make sure we are of the same opinion. That is it.
“I am not saying anything special or strange. It is just a case of saying, ‘OkK, what is our idea? This one. Can we go together? Fine. Perfect.’”
“But it has to be something that makes sure I, the fans and everybody here are sure we can compete.”
“It is not a case of thinking, ‘Maybe we can finish tenth or maybe we can finish 17th’.”
“It has to be a team that when you play against anyone, you are sure you can win. Not that a draw will be a great result.”
“I was talking to a friend, and I said I would like to do 11 more years,”
“Eleven more years as a manager, that’s fine. Roy Hodgson is in his 70s, and you can see that he is still there.”
“I like to manage teams. I like to coach players, so I’m happy with that.”
“I always say that we are forward-thinking. My staff, they are young people and we are always thinking about how to improve things.”
“But because I have come from the Real Madrid academy, we have a winning mentality. We want to win.”
“I like to win, and I want to compete for trophies. The best trophy is the Champions League, so in the next 11 years, I would like to have the possibility to win the Champions League.”
“I’m sure some of the players want to do well to stay here in the Premier League in a good position,”
“Some, if they’re finishing contracts or on loan, they’ll say, ‘If I play well, someone will see and it will be easier to get another contract at another club’. “
“We’re professionals, and we want to do well.”
Rafa’s comments will alert clubs that the world-class manager could be available in the summer and those clubs have every right to contact him since January about a new deal.
It’s a great opportunity for a club with ambition to contact Rafa and offer him what he wants and help him to compete again in Europe and win eventually win another Champions League trophy.
As the weeks go by that club doesn’t look like it will be Newcastle.
Not with Mike Ashley as the owner.
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
hibbit
Apr 20, 2019 at 8:46 AM
Comment #1there’s a storm a brewin !!!! 😉
Tsunki
Apr 20, 2019 at 8:48 AM
Comment #2I see my David Coverdale crack got a revisit. Good job I’m not a stickler for copyright 😉
I youtubed DC out of curiosity not long ago singing an old deep purple standard, it was just like listening in on an old folks singalong, he sang right in the middle range and cheated all the way through what a sorry sight – these old fogeys should just give up when they’ve lost it, ain’t that right jib?
Tsunki
Apr 20, 2019 at 8:50 AM
Comment #3“Now, we are in a situation where we have to decide if we want to achieve something more.”
“I have been here for more than three years, and I was clear from day one. I also think it is what the fans are looking for.”
Just put Charnleys business statement next to that, they don’t match up, Charley is saying “of course we want to compete etc” but the rest of his guff definitely adds the caveat of the horse pulling the (empty) cart.
This doesn’t look fantastic.
jazzyp
Apr 20, 2019 at 8:56 AM
Comment #4Hibbit
This has been coming to a head for a long time now mate ,And yet again proves what a joke we have become.Lies..Deceit from the owner,The club has been left to rot while Ashley strips us bare.
Yet fools come on here and pledge there love for the club because of a win against Man city..How easily pleased we have become
Lindisfarne
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:02 AM
Comment #5Luke Edwards@LukeEdwardsTele
The Benitez contract stand off is tiresome, incredibly so if I’m honest. It has worn everybody in media out over months. We are as annoyed with the whole thing as fans. This week has been one of the worst. There is blame on both sides sadly but we all want Rafa to stay #nufc
Lindisfarne
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:04 AM
Comment #6https://player.fm/series/everything-is-black-and-white-a-newcastle-united-podcast
“An in depth look at Newcastle’s accounts and what it means for Rafa Benitez’s future”
Interesting discussion which highlights the difference between Rafa and Lee.
posada
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:04 AM
Comment #7Wage bill of 93million. Don’t really get that. What’s the average wage. If Ritchie is on 2.5M a year I reckon the average wage is about 2M.
26×2 = 52. Rafa’s on 6M. The coaching staff and other employees add to it, but 93M ?
Is it their accounting methods. Future wages factored in.
If anyone can hazard a guess it would be interesting to know.
Even if it is doing the NUFC jig saw with just 30% of the pieces.
Ron Knee
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:07 AM
Comment #8Luke Edwards
?Verified account @LukeEdwardsTele
4m4 minutes ago
My gut feeling is the same. I think he will stay but if he doesn’t, it’s his decision to go and nobody will blame him for making that decision. But how much money the club has to spend is how much they have to spend. £60m plus player sales this summer is not bad at all.
Lindisfarne
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:07 AM
Comment #9Luke Edwards@LukeEdwardsTele
The point is – and this is where I wholeheartedly agree with Rafa – he must not only be allowed to spend it all, he must be allowed to spend it how he wishes. That’s what complete control of the football side of the business means #nufc
simon376
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:13 AM
Comment #10We can all say £60 million a year isn’t bad because of what we have been used to here over the past 11 years, but can we cope with that? Let’s remember, talking £60 million over 2 windows a year. Also ok we can get 1 decent striker for maybe £16.5 million, but if not him, about £40 million in today’s stupid silly money market would need to be used on just 1 striker of similar or better quality.
Unfortunately because of the way things have gone in stupid fees for players, we need 1 window of silly money then £50-£60 million a year would probably be fine. Major changes at the top to get that I think
magscar
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:14 AM
Comment #11So what is Rafa expected to say
– I have won everything bar World cup so I am happy to rest on my laurels now and see out the rest of my football days surviving but on good money?
– I am desperate for a job and such a workaholic that I couldn’t be without an appointment after 30 June
– Whatever is on offer here I am just so happy here that I will just take that
etc etc
If you believe that Ashley uses PR don’t be surprised that Rafa will skilfully use press to feed his side of story and expectations and good on him. He is no pushover, knows we fans hang on his every word and he is good copy and it all feeds back to Charnley and Ashley
We aren’t yet at sharp end and whilst it may all end in tears I get the impression that some are just too pleased to read this stuff a little too self congratulatory in feeling “knew it all along” sort of way.
It would be great if all could be done behind closed doors -like our transfer business usually is but this is perhaps Rafa’s most crucial contract negotiations ever and he desperately wants to be able to stay just not at any cost so uses everything he can to make his case.
if he does go like everyone on here and out in NUFC world I will be gutted but won’t blame him.
I think Rafa knows he can’t get total control of budget and recruitment but is angling for as much as he can get.
Both sides want Rafa here for different reasons and it can still be done. Rafa now saying we aren’t necessarily safe yet given Cardiffs recent result and he has always said that the time to discuss contract is when we are safe so we are not yet off course.
Keep the faith
bettyswallocks
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:17 AM
Comment #12Hopefully a win today and then down to the main agenda, securing Rafa’s services. There is clearly a Mexican stand off between Sheikh Mealy and Rafa and there will have to be compromises on both sides to sort out this impasse.
My fear is that because The fat Sheikh doesn’t like us and doesn’t care about anything except his ego and money , his stubbornness may well scupper any chances of an agreement being reached.
Jib
Apr 20, 2019 at 9:54 AM
Comment #13Tsunki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Bw_HH_T4g
here’s an old fogey who can still rock it and fill the Albert Hall
fairscup
Apr 20, 2019 at 10:10 AM
Comment #14Jib, FREE were the best ever. Reminds me of working at the Spanish City in 1970, I was feeling low but I,m ALRIGHT NOW.
Moonraker15
Apr 20, 2019 at 2:57 PM
Comment #15£93 million wage bill my arse! We are a joke of a club and if they let Rafa leave I’m finished with them. These fcukin goons are not worthy and I’m not supporting them any more! It’s bloody pathetic!
Moonraker15
Apr 20, 2019 at 3:01 PM
Comment #16They want a second rate manager for a second rate club! If Rafa leaves they will be relegated again! What’s the point?