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Rafa Benitez sounds at breaking point with one week to go until transfer deadline after 4-0 hammering

6 years ago
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You really have to feel for Rafa Benitez.

The best way you can describe it, is that the Newcastle manager looks as though he takes things to heart as much as the fans.

Just like Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson before him, he expects certain standards.

When they are not met, Rafa Benitez wears his heart on his sleeve.

Newcastle should have got hammered by Porto on Saturday, tonight they did.

Braga won 4-0 but this was the least of Rafa’s worries when he spoke to the media afterwards.

The manager spoke about the game and says the defeat has to be a ‘wake up call’ – but more importantly, he wants a wake up call off the pitch as well.

Asked if he was confident of getting in the signings he needs, Rafa Benitez replied: ‘Am I optimistic? Thinking that in ten days we can do what we didn’t do in two months? I don’t think so.’

Clearly feeling monumentally let down by Mike Ashley and his minions when it comes to transfers, Rafa declared ‘Our fans are very clever. They know what is going on.’

Sadly, we all know too well what is going on, but when you have somebody like Ashley in charge, knowing what to do to try and bring about any kind of change is the big question.

Rafa Benitez:

“It was a bad game and we did not do things the way that we have to.

“Ten days before the start of the season now and this is a wake up call, we must realise we can’t make these mistakes.

“Things are not going well off the pitch…and I’m worried…you can see a reflection of that on the pitch.

“Fans are concerned and they have to be. We are (also) concerned.

“We are not doing things well on the pitch, or off it.

“This (4-0 hammering) should be a wake up call for everyone.

 “A lot (more signings are still needed), as I said before, (at least) three or four (more) players.

“I can’t say too much about players coming in, because in the end, it depends on so many things and we don’t (usually) finish the deals.

“Our fans are very clever. They know what is going on.”

Asked if close to any more signings:

 “I have no idea.”

On Dwight Gayle’s future:

“It seems that he might stay.”

Optimistic?:

“Am I optimistic? Thinking that in ten days we can do what we didn’t do in two months?

“I don’t think so.

“I think it’s obvious we need people, we need (more) bodies.

“I said two months ago what we needed and 10 days before the start of season we still are where we are.

“There are four or five players we thought we could bring in…but we haven’t.”

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