EXTRA SENSORY PEREZ
Toon striker says his understanding with Rondon is telepathic
AYOZE PEREZ claims he has a “telepathic” understanding with Newcastle strike partner Salomon Rondon.
The Spanish forward’s dink which set up Rondon’s opener and triggered Everton’s collapse would be raved about had Lionel Messi done the same, said Rafa Benitez.
Talking through his two goals, and a sublime combination with Rondon, brilliant Perez added the duo to a famous list of mindreading striker link-ups.
Kevin Keegan and John Toshack once did a telepathy test to prove their understanding – the results were inconclusive.
It’s an illustrious list. LinekerBeardsley, Rush-Dalglish, KaneAlli, Best-Law, Quinn-Phillips. All duos who played as one.
Asked if he knew the word telepathic, Perez added: “Yeah of course! I believe in that. Sometimes you don’t have the time to look where you will pass. It is just in your mind, a memory.
“He gave me the ball and without looking, honestly, I knew the movement he was going to make so I put the ball into him.”
“I just tried to put it where he would go, where I imagined in my mind he would go, because I know his game well. It was a great goal. He’s a great goal-scorer.
“It was the hardest goal to get – the first one – and the comeback started with that goal.”
Perez is one of the bargains of the decade, signed in 2014 from Tenerife for £1.5million with 42 Toon goals to his name, and still improving.
He has taken flak from the crowd, causing his trademark fingers in ears celebration (left).
He needed it to quell the deafening noise that helped to “frighten” Everton into throwing away a two-goal first-half lead.
Perez set up Rondon, then scored twice himself. Jordan Pickford palming a Miguel Almiron rocket into his path, the second Rondon bundling the ball to him from an offside position.
It was as raucous and angry as St James’ Park gets. Fired up by referee Lee Mason failing to send off Pickford for a rugby tackle on Rondon, then saving Matt Ritchie’s penalty, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison gave the visitors the lead.
The win left Newcastle “close” to Premier League survival – “the main goal” as Perez said.
He added: “A comeback! To assist, then score twice, obviously it is one of my best performances for Newcastle. I am always happy to score for our cause.
“That made it five wins in a row at home, which is also special. When you are fighting against relegation you have to be strong at home and make other teams come here and feel uncomfortable and the crowd did that.”
Instead of monstering his team at half-time when 2-0 down, Benitez (left) delivered praise and encouragement.
“He gave us a speech that gave us belief to stay positive,” revealed Perez.
He switched Newcastle to four at the back, bolstered midfield and the game turned completely.