Daily Mirror

ROUGH RIDE COULD GET EVEN RAFA

Benitez warns Toon fans but insists: We are mentally strong

- BY SIMON BIRD @SimonBird_

RAFA BENITEZ admits he expected Newcastle to be in the bottom three – and fears things could get worse.

The Toon boss had his side pencilled in for a bad start because of a run of tough fixtures until October.

But he says there is no crisis on Tyneside as the squad is ready for a battle.

The Spaniard held out an olive branch to critics, admitting Toon must be better in attack after a series of dour displays against the elite.

They host Arsenal on Saturday, visit Crystal Palace and Manchester United, and have a home game against Leicester before the next internatio­nal break.

Asked about the league table, Benitez said: “Being in the bottom three is something you might expect when you look at our fixtures.

“The reality is they knew already the fixtures were very difficult, the players know doing things in the way they did last year, we can change things and be stronger and start getting points.

“At the moment, we have to understand this is the situation.

“We have to manage this situation and be strong mentally and carry on doing the things we did well last year. That will be the key to winning games this year.”

Newcastle have one point from four games, with only Burnley and West Ham worse off. They lost narrowly to Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City after setting up to limit the damage, and counter-attack.

There was a morale-sapping defeat in the cup to Nottingham Forest and a point at Cardiff, with a late Toon penalty miss.

Following criticism from some pundits for being too negative, Benitez added: “We know we did well defensivel­y as a team, as a unit, but we didn’t do as well in transition and attack.

“To lose by a one-goal margin against three top sides, you can say we were nearly there.

“To draw against Cardiff when we had the chance was a disappoint­ment.

“The good thing is we know that is the way, to keep working as hard as we did as a unit to defend. Also, we know that we have to be better in attack and take more chances if we want to win games.”

 ??  ?? GUNNER BE TOUGH Benitez faces a daunting task and his next test will not be easy at home to Arsenal
GUNNER BE TOUGH Benitez faces a daunting task and his next test will not be easy at home to Arsenal
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