Returning Rafa is a happy manager – but refusing to get carried away
RAFA Benitez helped fire Newcastle United into the Premier League’s top four on Saturday night as the Magpies silenced some of their earlyseason doubters with a great win against Stoke City.
The Magpies’ boss returned to the dugout after recovering from a hernia operation which forced him to miss the win at Swansea City last weekend.
However, despite being a little less mobile in the technical area than usual, Benitez’s presence inspired United to another win to make it three victories on the spin in the Premier League for the first time since 2014.
After the game, he faced the media in Newcastle’s refurbished press room and, as ever, he offered convincing answers to a packed audience.
Here is his full transcript from Saturday night:
Was that the perfect response to what you asked for?
Rafa Benitez: “Yes, I think so. “We knew before the game it was a difficult game and we had to approach the game with the mentality we did – working very hard, trying to do things in the way we wanted – to be sure we could be strong in defence and then create something in attack.
“It was not easy sometimes because they are a good team but we knew more or less it could be like this and at half-time we were talking about that, so the game plan was clear to carry on with the same idea.
“We had the chances to finish the game early and afterwards they had a chance and it could have been different.
“That is football and we have to learn that in the Premier League you cannot make too many mistakes or you will pay for that.
“At the same time, the good thing is winning, you correct things, you can improve things and it will be easier for me to get the message over.
Did you worry about missed chances?
RB: “No, I would not say I worry about that – I am really pleased if we can create chances.
“Then after, you have to score but in these kind of games if you concede, you say: ‘Oh we had the chances...’ and we would be talking about that.
“We know it has to be like that. Sometimes you will score goals which maybe you don’t deserve; sometimes, you will concede goals t you don’t deserve.
“In this case, I think we deserved to score and after – I’m sure Mark Hughes will say the opposite – I think we deserved to win and he will say they did enough to draw, maybe.”
Was the win down to the team’s character?
RB: “Yes. The main thing is that, the togetherness, the work-rate, the character, the whole team, the connection with the fans because the fans appreciate that.
“I put in the programme notes this is something that’s really important, players who want to stay, want to fight, want to defend the black and white shirt - and they are doing that.
“The fans – they appreciate that and for us to do that every week and the captain leading by example is something you have to be really pleased with.”
Rafa Benitez
How do you feel when you look at the table?
RB: “I have not seen the table and I don’t want to see the table, believe me. I said one game at a time and now it is just to be sure the fans enjoy it. “They can enjoy it, we have to enjoy it, but we have to be sure the next training session we start correcting things and improving things and doing things in the way we are doing things at the moment. That is our responsibility.”
Was Joselu frustrated?
RB: “Yes. For a striker, always when you have chances, it is important to score.
“For a striker who was playing against Stoke that was maybe even more.
“However, I am really pleased with his contribution.
“He was winning in the air, he was holding the ball – there were a lot of positives from a lot of players and still plenty of room for improvement.
“I don’t say we have to play perfect games every time but at least we know that we can improve little things and that will give us more chances to win games.”
Should you have had a penalty?
RB: “From the bench, it was clear.
“After, they told me he (Zouma) had touched the ball. I don’t know, I have not seen the replay - but you cannot change things from the bench.”
What did you make of the fan reaction?
RB: “I could not hear too much because I was early in the tunnel to talk with a player but that is the time the fans have to enjoy; that is the time the players and the staff have to enjoy a little bit less and be sure that we are ready for the next one.
How long can you enjoy this victory for?
RB: “Maybe today we will relax and then tomorrow we have to...
“We were already watching the game on the TV so I will be working on that.”
I haven’t seen the table and I don’t want to see the table, believe me. I said one game at a time