RAFA’S ISTANBUL SPEECH INSPIRES FIGHTBACK
HE is not prone to episodes of indulgence, so when Rafa Benitez reveals he invoked the spirit of istanbul to inspire Newcastle’s comeback here, you take note.
At the same time, match-winner Ayoze Perez was also making reference of his manager’s halftime address, delivered as they trailed by two.
‘He gave us a speech that gave us the belief to stay positive. He told us we had to step up,’ said Perez. ‘As soon as we scored the first one, that belief grew even more.’
in istanbul in 2005, Benitez’s Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down at the break against AC Milan to win the Champions League. ‘This was similar,’ said Benitez. ‘in terms of the team-talk, because you have to give them something to believe.
‘in istanbul we changed and put three at the back. Here, we needed to be more on top of them, to have more control. We needed to do something different.’
That something different saw salomon Rondon volley a reply on 65 minutes before Perez scored twice inside three minutes late on to climax a riotous turnaround.
Given how flaky the visitors were in the second half, Benitez could have said: ‘Lads, it’s Everton’ and it may well have been enough.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford should have been sent off in the first half when he rugby tackled Rondon in the area but somehow remained to save Matt Ritchie’s penalty, grinning at the crowd as Everton broke, scoring a second.
But the joke was on Pickford as his error led to Perez’s equaliser and the winner arrived on the back of a missed offside, which saw Everton manager Marco silva rage at the officials. An FA charge is sure to follow.
For Benitez, today marks his three- year anniversary at st James’ Park, although his contract is up in the summer. it would be a travesty if they failed to keep him for three more.