WOR & PEACE
Rafa remains upbeat: New boys will make us a little bit better
RAFA BENITEZ will refuse to “create a war” with Newcastle over their transfer spending.
The Toon manager says the addition of Islam Slimani, Kenedy and keeper Martin Dubravka, will make his relegation-threatened Magpies “a bit better”.
Benitez has pledged to “make the best” of his squad, and made a passionate speech, before training, to urge his men to “fight for every point”.
The Spaniard once again found Toon unable or unwilling to lay down a big bid for a lead striker, missing out on Nicolai Jorgensen, or do deals early.
Instead, he got Slimani, 29, on loan from Leicester, who “has a bit of everything”, and should be fit to face Manchester United next week.
Benitez privately regards the way Newcastle do business as far from ideal, but said yesterday: “I don’t have to be involved in the politics.
“I don’t want to create a war, but I need to be sure the players are concentrated on football, playing well, and getting points every game to stay up.
“I’m here to express my feeling. At the moment, that feeling is that we are a little bit better than three days before. We did some business. It has to be positive, if the new players perform on the pitch. “Why? We have new players with different characteristics and they want to play, improve and push. The others are already working hard.” Slimani trained with a physio yesterday, but is unlikely to play against Crystal Palace tomorrow. Benitez has monitored him for years and said: “We were looking for different options and different characteristics, and then players, if it was possible, with experience in the Premier League, or players who are fit and scoring goals. “But, if you cannot do that, you have to go for players who know the league and can do well from day one. “Is he a risk? No. He’s a player that they paid, I think, £30million for. “He’s strong, can run behind defenders – things we don’t have. “We have players, one can run, one can win in the air, one can be strong, but this one maybe can do a little bit of everything.”