SOFA SO GOOD FOR RAFA
Benitez phoned in tactics from his sick bed and win will have helped his recovery
RAFA BENITEZ enjoyed the view from his sofa as Newcastle turned his phone into a hotline to heaven.
Spanish boss Benitez, recovering from a recent hernia operation at his Wirral home, stayed in touch with his coaching staff by mobile phone. And in the Toon boss’s absence, Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles’ header, 13 minutes from time, was enough to beat Swansea on the road and clinch back-to-back Premier League wins. Magpies fitness coach Miguel Moreno said: “Rafa has been quite active, he has been speaking to one of the
staff during the game, and that has worked. Everyone contributed and it was fine. “He rang us straight after the match and congratulated everybody, especially the players, who did a massive job. “He is very happy with the performance. Jamaal has the spirit of a captain. “But we need Rafa back as soon as possible and we think he will join us this week, possibly on Tuesday.” Goal hero Lascelles said: “The manager rang me and told me to make sure the boys were on it. “We have set a standard now and hopefully he is back with us soon.” There were reports Benitez would fly to the Liberty Stadium by helicopter. But Moreno explained: “Rafa wanted to come and wanted to do everything he could to attend, but the weather conditions were not the best. “We are very glad because we planned the game to try and win three points and we did it.” Swans keeper Lukasz Fabianski said: “The most frustrating thing is to concede from a set-piece, especially in a game when we are going to try and win it. We got sloppy.”