Transfer work in progress for Benitez
RAFA Benitez was asked a wide range of questions after the 1-1 draw with Preston North End.
Here’s the transcript of his Q and A session.
Were you pleased to see Aleksandar Mitrovic get off the mark in pre-season?
Benitez: “It is always good for the strikers to get goals.
“In friendlies, they don’t mean too much but it was good for him and his confidence.
Was it a good debut for Jacob Murphy after his £10m move from Norwich? Benitez: “More or less it was. “But the team was not playing at the level we were expecting.
“Sometimes you need the team to play better. If you are a winger, you can make the difference.
“Pre-season games let you improve fitness and understand where you are. We know how hard we have to work it.” And Javier Manquillo? Benitez: “Javier Manquillo – he’s a player that can play in both positions. We needed some cover for the full-backs.
“So I think he has to improve from last season, but he has potential.”
Any message to the 3,000 or so fans who made the journey to Preston?
Benitez: “The fans are really good. When you talk about big clubs we know why. It’s because we have fantastic fans behind the team.
How fearful are you of starting the season with this squad, how many more players do you need?
Benitez: “I don’t know. We have to wait and see what happens. “We are in contact all the time. “No (I am not worried), we will have to see where we are at the start of the season. We will still have time.”
Are you confident of doing some more business?
Benitez: “Hopefully.”
Can all of the current crop of players buckle down and do a job?
Rafa Benitez: “No, not all of them – we have too many.
“We have to get down to 25 players and try to adjust.” Why was Jamaal Lascelles not involved? Rafa Benitez: “He had a slight knee problem but should be OK.”