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Rafa Benitez gives three reasons for defeat to Huddersfield

8 years ago
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Rafa Benitez identified three different reasons for Newcastle losing for the second game in a row.

The Newcastle boss saying his players lost to Huddersfield because:

You have to create more chances.

Take your chances and…

Defend better.

Can’t really argue with any of that.

Rafa Benitez is bemused as to why what is happening on the training ground isn’t being replicated in the matches, saying ‘we have to understand why’.

Rafa felt the (Matt Ritchie inspired) second half display was an improvement but still at the level needed.

Having made four changes from the starting eleven at Fulham, interesting to see what he does on Wednesday when Reading come calling.

Rafa Benitez talking to NUFC TV:

“Very disappointed because we were expecting to play better, expecting to manage the game better.

“The first half we didn’t do it and the reaction of the team in the second half was much better but we still didn’t do enough.

“You have to create more chances, you have to take your chances, and you have to defend better. We had too many problems that we had to manage.”

‘If we had taken one of the couple of chances in the first half, could it have been different?’

“Yes – but I don’t want to make excuses, we have to create more. Also, the chance of Matt Ritchie in the second half, could have been 2-1 – still not enough, we have to do better.

“We had analysed them (Huddersfield) and knew they were dangerous, we couldn’t make these mistakes and concede these goals – too many things we didn’t do well.”

‘Dwight Gayle’s goal – did you think at that point would go on and win the game?’

“At this point we were pressing and we were controlling the game, having more chances. Still a feeling though that we had to do much better to win these games.”

‘If anybody thought it would be easy, they certainly won’t now?’

“No, it’s not easy. We know it is a very difficult competition. The only thing you can say is that there are many games to play and another (Reading on Wednesday) very quickly.

“It is so difficult to explain because you are so disappointed. All the things we were doing in training sessions, we haven’t been doing these things in the games – we have to understand why.”

‘The fans?’

“I think it is a pity because the fans were behind the team, even without playing well.

“As soon as we did something good, they were behind the team. It depends on us to keep them supporting the team.”

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