Rafa’s confident of doing transfer business
BENITEZ ON TACTICS AND RESULT HE WANTS FROM EVERY PREMIER LEAGUE CLASH (SPOILER: IT’S NOT A DRAW OR A LOSS)
RAFA Benitez has made it clear he never goes into games looking for anything other than a win as Newcastle United boss.
The Magpies were accused of trying to operate with a plan tantamount to damage limitation against league leaders Manchester City during the festive period before drawing 0-0 with Brighton and Hove Albion in their next home game.
Some observers might consider a point at home to Swansea City a reasonable result as it would keep the Welsh side at bay at the bottom of the table and edge Newcastle another step closer to Premier League safety.
But when asked if he was ever content with a draw and a point, Benitez told the Chronicle: “No, no. I’m never happy with a draw at home – or even away.
“When you go away you want to win. But it is the way you have to approach each game.
“If every single player in the squad could make a difference on their own then we would go out and attack because we’d have enough individuals who can make a difference.
“When you don’t have that – and have a group of players where it depends on them working as a team for success, then you have to have a game plan and follow that plan.
“Our game plan is never being happy to lose only 1-0 or get a draw.
“We have to use the tools we have to approach every game. Sometimes you have to attack and sometimes you’ll have to defend.”
Benitez has looked to harness his squad’s collective talents and fashion a side greater than the sum of its individual parts.
It’s a far cry from how the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ operate, with the former Real Madrid boss stating that those clubs now have so much strength in depth, they can approach games however they like.
Benitez also knows he must set his stall out accordingly when going up against Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Man United.
He said: “The top six can make a big difference and you see the crazy money being spent and the difference is now even bigger.
“But you have what you have to do is use the tools for the job the best way possible.
“If you play Brighton at home you have to be sure you don’t lose it by trying to win. “Against Swansea, it’s the same. “We will try to win – for sure because we know they’re a rival to us.
“But what we can’t do is think we will score three goals in the first 15 minutes because we’re better than them.
“We are in the Premier League now, not the Championship – it’s different.”
Victory over the Welsh outfit would create a sizeable nine-point gap between the clubs.
And while the Toon boss appreciates the fixture’s importance, he has looked to minimise the mental burden on his players this week.
He said: “It is a massive game for them but also a massive game for us. These are the type of games that you can’t lose.
“But what you have to do is manage the anxiety and manage the feeling that this is a ‘must-win’ game.
“We know that it will be massive if we do win because they will be nine points behind us if that’s the case. “But we must make sure we don’t lose it and approach it well. “We have to be on the front foot but at the same time control them because they have good organisation in defence and intensity. “They also have good pace, and normally they’re a team that have a lot of possession. They are also good on the counter-attack. “We have to make sure we are good but without being too open and giving them five or six counterattacks in which they can kill you.”
What you have to do is manage the anxiety and manage the feeling that this is a ‘must-win’ game
Rafa Benitez