Why Rafa’s staying cold to give stars a warm feeling
BENITEZ ON WHY HE HAS OPTED AGAINST TAKING TOON PLAYERS AWAY FOR WARM-WEATHER CAMP
RAFA Benitez has explained why he opted against taking his players on a sunshine break this week.
The Newcastle United manager had the option to follow the example of previous bosses such as Steve McClaren, Alan Pardew and John Carver by jetting out to warmer climes for a mid-season training camp.
Pardew has flown out to Barcelona with his West Bromwich Albion side this week while Everton are in Dubai and Liverpool are in Marbella, Manchester United have already been to the Middle East this year.
But Benitez refused to go down that line, and while other Premier League sides were preparing for plush trips this week, with Sam Allardyce and Pardew reeling off the benefits of such an excursion, Newcastle players prepared for the bitter Tyneside winter weather.
Down the years the Magpies have spent this time of year in places like Tenerife, Dubai and La Manga, but it is believed that spirits are high at Benton on the back of that massive result against the Red Devils at the weekend.
McClaren held a training camp back in 2016 just two games before
parting company with United – the move didn’t pay off and Newcastle crashed to defeats against Stoke City and then AFC Bournemouth before going down.
Last season, Sunderland jetted out to New York but still ended up being relegated as David Moyes’ position became untenable and he left at the end of the campaign.
This week, Benitez drew up a training schedule at the club’s Tyneside base and players have trained in winter temperatures at Benton. Benitez told the Chronicle: “Our idea is to train and keep the players happy with their families.
“Some people prefer to go away at this time of year.
“But when you are travelling away throughout the season in the Premier League and the cups and you are also training most days I don’t think players get the time to spend with their family.
“So if you can give them that time back it is much better for them.”
Newcastle’s last trip abroad under McClaren attracted criticism, with many fans seeing it as a reward for the players despite a woeful FA Cup third-round knockout at Watford.
Previous trips abroad under Pardew and Carver also came around the time of FA Cup defeats in the early stages.
Benitez justified his move to put a stop to mid-season trips, adding: “If you go abroad there will be good facilities and maybe it will be sunny.
“But then you can go there and it will be raining.
“The families may then get upset that the husband is away for one
Our idea is to keep the players happy with their families ... if you give them that time back it is better for them Rafa Benitez