RAFA’S BACKING FOR FANS
Boss in Toon with group battling owner Ashley
RAFA BENITEZ is backing angry Newcastle fans in their fight with club owner Mike Ashley.
The Magpies Group is planning another protest outside Ashley’s Sports Direct store in the city centre ahead of tomorrow’s game against Chelsea at St James’ Park.
And while Benitez hasn’t publicly come out in support of the demonstration he has made it clear where his sympathies lie.
In a clear endorsement of the fans’ actions he said: “They have been here for a lot of years and sometimes you analyse things with the heart but a lot of them are analysing with their brain.”
The Toon chief has so far resisted pressure from the club hierarchy to sign a new contract.
Rift
And a series of barbed comments against the Ashley regime have underlined the rift that exists between manager and the controversial retail magnate.
Benitez admits he shares the concerns of fans, alarmed at the lack of investment in the squad despite the club raking in millions from player sales and TV cash.
He added: “I have a lot of sympathy for our fans because they are really good. They would like to see the club do things in one way.
“We have the potential to be a massive club but we have to do things right. Everybody knows that.” Newcastle new boy Yoshinori Muto is pushing for a start and he plans on taking defences to the cleaners this season.
The Japanese striker, signed from Bundesliga side Mainz in a £9.5m deal in the summer, shares his compatriots’ obsession for wanting everything looking spick and span.
As part of the Japan squad which reached the knockout stages of the World Cup, Muto would regularly tidy dressing rooms after the final whistle
Fans, too, drew praise for taking their litter home and leaving their seating areas looking pristine.
He said: “It’s our normal way of doing things. It shows gratitude to use their facilities. It wasn’t something we did especially at the World Cup.
“We just acted as normal and it happened to get some attention which wasn’t something we really wanted.”
Muto could have been lining up against Newcastle this weekend.
During his days with FC Tokyo he had the chance to join Chelsea – but turned them down preferring a move to Mainz where he felt he would play more.
“I was 22 when I got the Chelsea offer and I didn’t feel the manager needed me at the time,” he said.
“I think they wanted young players with potential and then loan them out to help them progress.
“Instead, I wanted to feel like I could make my own progress step by step so I didn’t take that opportunity.” MAURIZIO SARRI has refused to make any promises to Ruben Loftus-Cheek and has challenged the England midfielder to prove he’s worth a place at Chelsea.
The 22-year-old was left out of the squad for last week’s win over Arsenal and was only on the bench on the opening day rout of Huddersfield.
Loftus-Cheek enhanced his reputation at the World Cup but could find himself out of contention when the England squad for the games against Spain and Switzerland is named next week – because he has not played since.
He even returned early from his holidays after the World Cup to try to prove himself to Sarri.
Clubs in Germany, France and Spain are all watching the situation – but Sarri insisted he would be staying until at least January.
And he laid it on the line for Loftus-Cheek as he said: “I am not able to promise anything to anybody. It’s up to him.
“I usually look at training and then I decide on the team.
“I think he will remain with us. We can speak again about his situation, but only in December.”
England defender Gary Cahill, yet to play a minute under Sarri and a target now for Turkish club Galatasaray, is in the same position.