Atsu: A win will ‘release pressure’
result this weekend and, looking ahead to the fixture, Solano said: “Benitez will set the tone in this one I think.
“It will be easy to see how it is going to go after half an hour and if Newcastle sit deep then we could be looking at a 0-0 draw. If Newcastle can show quality on the counterattack they could even nick it.
“At the moment they do not have the quality going forward.
“They could have had Harry Kane up front on Saturday and not gained a result because I did not see one quality cross into the box.”
The Magpies go into the game on the back of a team night out in Ponteland where Mike Ashley paid for pizzas for the whole squad. Solano said: “I have a good idea what the players would have thought about this.
“They will wonder why if I am being honest.
“If the owner wants to see you why doesn’t he pop his head in the dressing room after games?
“Let’s be honest, it is going to take more than a pizza or two to secure that first win of the season.” NEWCASTLE United players can “release the pressure” growing on themselves by claiming a victory at Old Trafford on Saturday, believes Christian Atsu.
Rafa Benitez’s side is winless so far this season and heads to the north west to take on Manchester United third-bottom of the Premier League following last weekend’s deflating 2-0 home defeat to Leicester City.
However, the Red Devils themselves appear to be a club in crisis at the moment, with claims in Manchester manager Jose Mourinho will be sacked if the Magpies inflict another defeat on Man United.
Last weekend they lost 3-1 at West Ham United, their third defeat in just seven league games.
They are 10th in the table nine points behind leaders Manchester City already.
A goalless draw at home to Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday has increased the pressure on Mourinho, who stripped star midfielder Paul Pogba of the vice-captaincy last week.
Although Atsu accepts Man United will be tough opposition to overcome on Saturday, the Ghana international winger also stresses Newcastle have an excellent opportunity to belatedly kickstart their season.
Following last weekend’s disappointing performance against Leicester, Atsu insists the Newcastle squad can have “no excuses” for failing to perform at Old Trafford.
He says the squad must use the 1-0 victory the Magpies over the Red Devils on Tyneside in March in order to help boost their confidence.
The 26-year-old said ahead of tomorrow evening’s clash: “We have to win that game to release the pressure, to give us more confidence, and so we can have a better look in the table.
“We are going to work hard in training to improve every one of us.
“We know it will be difficult at Old Trafford but we have no excuse.
“The game is going to be very hard because they lost against West Ham.
“They are a big team, they don’t lose many games in a row.”