RAFA KNOWS BEST – DON’T QUESTION HIM!
CAPTAIN LASCELLES LEAPS TO DEFENCE OF MAGS MANAGER AFTER ANOTHER DEFEAT
Jamaal Lascelles has leapt to the defence of Rafa Benitez – after Newcastle United hit rock bottom.
The club is propping up the Premier League after a winless start to the season.
Brighton and Hove Albion condemned inflicted a fifth home defeat on Benitez’s side at St James’s Park on Saturday in front of owner Mike Ashley.
There were some boos when Benitez replaced Yoshinori Muto with Joselu in the second half.
And the final whistle was greeted with more boos from frustrated fans.
Lascelles, however, says Benitez can’t be questioned.
“I don’t think anyone in the stadium can question the manager about anything,” said United’s captain.
“Whether it’s to do with substitutions, tactics or whatever – they can’t question the manager, because he knows football better than anyone in this whole stadium.
“People might say he should have brought this or that player on, but he’s done it at the top level and won trophies, so he knows.
“He wants us to play a certain way, and if we can’t do that as players, it’s down to us. But the gaffer can only deal with what he’s got. “As players we’ve got to take responsibility ourselves. We cross the white line and so it’s down to us. We have to get together and talk about it, because we need to be more clinical in the box.”
Newcastle dominated the game and had 27 shots, six of which were on target.
Beram Kayal diverted a shot from Jose Izquierdo past Martin Dubravka in the 29th minute.
United pressed for an equaliser in the second half, but came up short in the final third of the pitch.
“It’s definitely frustrating for us as players,” said Lascelles.
“They didn’t have much more other than the goal they scored from a corner which should have been a goal kick.
“We had all the chances. They had one chance, and had all three points.
“We should have defended the corner better, but we shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place.
“In pretty much every game we’ve played, bar Leicester, we’ve played some decent football and things haven’t gone our way.
“One result, one win, and we can really start our season properly.”