GOT THE LOTT
Rafa is on to a winner with Dubravka
MARTIN DUBRAVKA has revealed that Rafa Benitez told him to buy a lottery ticket as his Newcastle debut was so good.
The keeper was unbeatable in the 1-0 win over Manchester United, but said: “Don’t call me a hero yet.”
The 29-year-old was drafted in from Sparta Prague in January to lead from the back. Boss Benitez asked him to become a ‘libero’ using his passing ability, a role he loves after once being a talented winger.
He got off to a fine start in the surprise win over United, and Dubravka (with Benitez, right) said: “Rafa told me I should buy some kind of lottery ticket and I would win.
“He knew it was a big game for me, my debut. I said to everyone, ‘You never know, you can always beat the best teams if you fight for each other’.
“Everyone wants to be a hero of a club. But I am not a hero now. I have to take this step by step from the beginning. I can’t fly in the clouds.”
Dubravka was boosted earlier in his career by messages and chats with former Toon No.1 Pavel Srnicek, who once tried to sign him for Sparta.
The Slovakia star keeps a picture of fellow ex-Sparta keeper Petr Cech on his locker door to remind him of the high standards he wants to reach. He added: “I don’t want to look like I am arrogant, just like I have enough confidence to help the guys.
“We are all equal on the pitch. I don’t care if someone has been here for five years, we have to fight for the points together.
“As a kid I liked to play as a winger, then my father Jozef told me he was a keeper and he explained that my grandfather was a keeper, too. “I was like, ‘Why am I playing on the right wing? I want to be a goalkeeper as well’.
“When I was 15 I started to play indoor football as I liked it. I got a personal coach when I was 15 and that helped me a lot. But it has taken a while to get to this level.” The Magpies have paid a £1.2million loan fee with an option to buy him for £4m in the summer.
He wants to stay and says moving permanently will be “life changing”.
He is a multiple champion from the Slovakian league and caught the Toon’s eye playing against Scotland and England.
He said: “Before friends were texting to say, ‘You are playing Man United’. I laughed, ‘Of course. Thank you so much for this information!’
“The atmosphere in the stadium and the fans was amazing. I was very happy. I am ready for this challenge.”