Benitez warning that winter is coming
RAFA BENITEZ has told his young Newcastle team not to get carried away by their promising start.
Victory at Burnley tonight would take the Magpies into the top six but the Newcastle manager is already preparing for a tough winter that will put their top-flight credentials to the test.
“Our players have more confidence now because we are doing well but we’re not saying, ‘Ooh, we have 14 points and we are fine’,” he said. “If you approach a season thinking about having to survive, then you will be down there fighting to survive. So you have to approach it trying to finish as high as possible.
“I am not saying we have to finish eighth, ninth, 10th or whatever but now we’re in a good position, it’s about trying to go higher.” Benitez accepts the fixture list has been kind to his newlypromoted side and believes it will not be until the new year that the real picture emerges.
He said: “We will look at it again in January because by then we will have played all the top sides and you will be exactly where you are for a reason.”
Burnley defender Stephen Ward has revealed Sean Dyche is a tough taskmaster on the training ground but the club’s players would be distraught if he left. Dyche has been linked with the Everton manager’s job after Ronald Koeman was sacked a week ago.
During his career Ward has worked under managers for club and country who like to crack the whip, such as Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane. But the 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international believes Dyche is a sterner prospect.
“Training is up there with the toughest I’ve had,” said Ward. “I really enjoy it and I’m probably as fit as I’ve felt in my career. It took me about two or three weeks to get used to it.
“It’s the same with everyone, they can’t believe the fitness of the squad and how hard we work.
“You never hear anyone moaning about it because you know if you want to play in a Sean Dyche team you have to work hard.
“It would be a blow to lose him, of course. It’s down to the club and the manager himself. If he stays it’ll be great for us.”