Don’t underestimate the achievement of promotion
RAFA Benitez insists it would be a “great achievement” for Newcastle United to secure automatic promotion this season, whether the Magpies win the Championship or not.
Brighton and Hove Albion have already guaranteed their Premier League status for next season and are seven points ahead of second-placed Newcastle, who take on Preston North End at St James’ Park tomorrow night.
For the Magpies to still be in contention to win the second-tier title at this stage - even if the Seagulls are still huge favourites to win the league - Benitez believes is a huge accomplishment.
Only one club, Burnley, have secured automatic promotion in the season immediately after relegation in the past five years.
The other two sides who were demoted last season, Norwich City and Aston Villa, lie in eighth and 12th place respectively and will endure at least another season in the second tier.
Benitez believes experience and knowledge of the Championship are crucial to success in this division.
He also cites the years of investment Brighton have ploughed into their squad and general infrastructure as reasons behind the Seagulls’ success.
So, for Newcastle to be on course for automatic promotion with just three games to go following relegation and then a summer of upheaval, is testament to the players insists Benitez.
“It’s a massive difference,” Benitez replied when asked if the difference between Newcastle and Brighton was the experience of this division.
“The experience and also the money they [Brighton] have spent in the past.
“I don’t want to talk about, ‘We have spent more money’, ‘ They have spent more money’.
“You see where Brighton are, you see where Sheffield [Wednesday] are with teams that have been there.
“Huddersfield have a team – I think they have seven Germans, so maybe the manager knows the players.
“He bought the players he needed, they know the division because they have been there before, they are doing well.
“Then they have nothing to lose, they have confidence and the momentum is there.
“The other teams, teams with experience, teams with players who know the division – Leeds also have players who know the division – and it’s quite normal, and it’s very difficult.
“For us to be there, to change the team and bring in a lot of new players and then put all of them together and do well, I think it’s a great achievement.
“I will not talk about whether, ‘I deserve or not’; I am telling you that these players, they deserve a lot of credit.
“They are doing really well.”
Benitez wrote to former Magpies boss Chris Hughton - who led United back to the Premier League at the first time of asking during the 2009/10 campaign - to congratulate him on Brighton’s promotion earlier this week.
And the Spaniard stresses he always knew Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday would be challenging for top-six spots this season.
“Yes, for sure, I knew that Brighton would be up there,” Benitez replied.
“When we played against Sheffield [Wednesday], I was talking with the manager about the players that he had from the final of the play-offs from the year before.
“All the teams that were at the top of the table in the past couple of seasons, for me, they were teams who could be there – clearly they could be there.
“Then when you talk about 46 games; experience, it’s massive, it’s crucial.
“Consistency and experience are crucial for me, so these teams were teams that could be there.”