Benitez bids to strike balance in tilt for Cup glory
RAFA Benitez has revealed his cup strategy ahead of what he sees as a challenging campaign for Newcastle United.
The Magpies travel to the City Ground next week to face Sky Bet Championship side Nottingham Forest in the second round of the Carabao Cup - but Benitez has already suggested he may have no choice but to make changes to his starting XI.
Undoubtedly, Benitez would love to be the man to end the long trophy drought at St James’ Park.
However, after the transfer window closed with a few gaps in his squad, he knows retaining Premier League status has to be the priority for the Magpies this term.
When asked how he will approach the League Cup and FA Cup, Benitez said: “It depends. What I will say this year is similar to last. It depends on the squad.
“If we do not have any injuries and we can manage, we will try to compete, but the priority always has to be to stay in the Premier League.”
United found themselves under fire in the FA Cup in 2017 when they were thrashed by League One Oxford United.
That day Benitez still fielded a team which should have been capable of getting at least a replay with the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Isaac Hayden, Ayoze Perez and seniors such as Grant Hanley, Jesus Gamez and Achraf Lazaar.
Last season, a good start in the FA Cup with a win over Luton Town raised hopes
I cannot promise the target is to win the League Cup or the FA Cup because I will be lying to our fans Rafa Benitez
a cup run might be possible but Newcastle were then drawn away to the eventual winners Chelsea in round four. However, it was the 3-2 home defeat against Forest last season which looked like a missed opportunity at St James.’ Newcastle now have the chance to exact revenge on the Trees but Benitez will assess his options after the Premier League clash with Chelsea on Tyneside. The former Real Madrid and Liverpool boss said: “We have this game (vs Forest). “If everybody is available to play and we can go through with a good team then fine, we will go with that. “I cannot promise the target is to win the League Cup or the FA Cup because I will be lying to our fans. “I know our fans want a good run in the cup.
“We will try to do that with the squad we have.” Benitez, who is no stranger to rotating his starting line-up at Newcastle, explained why he must tread carefully with the squad he has.
He said: “We cannot try to start with the same XI for 10 games in a row.
“People say: ‘Yeah but it is the start of the season and you can do that.’
“No, because the risk is players will be tired – and you will have injuries that will maybe result in them being missing in the Premier League.
“You have to manage and you have to go through but with the players available the balance may be starting some games in the Premier League and some in the cups.”