United heading back to Ireland
BENITEZ GIVES THUMBS-UP TO ANOTHER TRIP TO THE EMERALD ISLE AS UNITED FIRM UP THEIR SUMMER PLANS
RAFA Benitez now has his preferred destination fully booked up when it comes to pre-season for Newcastle United.
The Magpies will return to the plush surroundings of Carton House in Ireland as they look to build on their top-10 finish in the Premier League last season.
Benitez can rest easy knowing he can get the required workloads he needs to be completed without the distraction of longhaul travel or exhausting fixture schedules which have badly affected the Magpies’ fortunes in recent times.
Indeed, before Benitez arrived as the boss, United were suffering from a tough pre-season in the United States under Steve McClaren which included a twoweek stay in Milwaukee, Sacramento and Portland.
That year it took McClaren’s side eight games to record a win and by the time Benitez arrived the team was staring relegation in the face.
The States experience was brilliant for the supporters who were able to make the hop over the pond - and of course the masses of Toon fans based in the US.
Boosting the club’s name in North America is still important to the club, but it is about getting that schedule exactly right.
An awkward flight schedule around the States contributed to a bad start to the season in the eyes of McClaren.
That nonstop tour of 2015 in America was replaced by relative tranquillity in Ireland a year later when Benitez used a week-long stay in Maynooth to lay the foundations for the club’s Championship title-winning season.
During that week two years ago the decision was made to hand Jamaal Lascelles the captaincy, while a new philosophy of sticking together when the chips were down was put in place by the United manager. The trip was so much of a success Benitez opted to do a similar week in Ireland last year before United’s successful campaign in the Premier League. Benitez knows eventually Newcastle will end up back on a promotional tour in either the States again, China, or Australia. The revenue to be made on longhaul tours is too tempting and United are hardly going to turn it down. However, for now, Newcastle could not be spending pre-season in a better place in the eyes of Benitez. Carton House has been used by Real Madrid, the British and Irish Lions and AC Milan in recent years. Speaking about the venue last year Benitez said: “It is a nice place and the weather is sunny
It is a nice place and the weather is sunny - when you have the right training conditions everything is OK Rafa Benitez
and when you have the right conditions for training as a manager everything is OK. We have the gym and pitches.
“We have plenty of time here so everything is good.
“They can play games and watch TV together.
“They can use the PlayStation after training and they have some activities like last year.
“It is important for them to spend more time together. The facilities are very good.”
There was still room for some promotional activity last year in Dublin too as United’s star players and Benitez made their way to Sports Direct in the city centre to meet fans, sign shirts and promote the club’s new kit.
Benitez’s side will also play a game against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park - meaning the short hop to Ireland will this year provide the season’s first away trip.
It promises to be a positive start to the 2018/19 campaign for Benitez and his players.