Benitez urges supporters to stay calm and keep the faith
TRICKY FIXTURES ARE COMING UP
IT is the message Newcastle United fans are being urged to heed as they head into a potentially testing winter run of fixtures: stay calm and keep faith in Rafa Benitez’s ‘process.’
The Magpies have made a decent start to life back in the Premier League and – despite the hype that surrounded Huddersfield’s start – they are the only promoted side in the top 10 at the moment – 10 points and ninth place is above par compared to most supporters’ expectations – and all three away games have been narrow contests that could have gone either way.
They head to Southampton on Sunday looking to maintain their good start at a ground that has traditionally been a graveyard of reputations.
But even if the worst happens and United lose, the players are being told on the training ground to maintain their focus, heed the messages coming from the coaches and stick to the jobs that have been assigned.
Benitez repeats the message time and time again to the players and also to supporters: their faith in their approach is not knocked by a losing run and they shouldn’t believe everything is perfect when they go on a winning run.
Newcastle certainly have more difficult assignments ahead. Of their seven games so far, they have played just two teams in the top 10 of the early Premier League table. Their next two games are also against teams in the bottom half (the next home match is against Crystal Palace who are rock bottom) before a tougher run in late November and December.
Benitez’s preferred candidate for the lone striker’s role – Joselu – says United’s players are staying calm and will “continue” to work hard.
“You have to be calm. It’s only seven games. The league has too far to go,” he said. “We try to just take every game as it comes because if you start thinking about what may happen in three or four months: you never know.
“It’s impossible to predict where we will finish so we just try to work every week to win the next game and then we will see.
“We think we can get better as the season goes on but I can’t predict where we will finish this season.
“Maybe you will lose five games in a row, maybe you will win seven in a row.
“The Premier League is an unpredictable league and the squads in the league are very good – it’s difficult to pick up wins in this league.
“We try to work hard every single day and we try to just pick up as many points as we can.
“We know that we can win games, we know that we will lose games so we just have to remain calm and keep working hard.”
Maybe you will lose five games in a row, maybe you will win seven in a row Joselu