Rafa Benitez message “I have to keep going”
Rafa Benitez reacts to one point from the last twenty one with a simple message – ‘I have to keep going’.
The United boss says that he sees the players train every day and how hard they work.
The problem being that they are making mistakes in matches, mistakes which he believes end up in goals conceded almost every time.
This run of results has coincided with generally better opposition than in the early stages of the season – but that is little comfort to manager or fans as the team drop down the table.
It is Everton on Wednesday and failure to take something from that match will add massive pressure, especially with Arsenal and Manchester City two of the three following games, as well as a tricky trip to West Ham who have just beaten Chelsea.
Rafa Benitez:
“People (players) were very disappointed.
“It is not easy when you lose a game at home, especially when the atmosphere was as good as that.
“The way that we lost the game, it is hard…
“I have to keep going, because I see how hard the players work, how hard they train everyday, so it is just a question of cutting out the mistakes.
“Sometimes you make mistakes and you are not punished – but every mistake seems to be a goal we concede.
“We have to learn and have more experience and manage it better.
“We have seen two or three situations with the same kind of goals (as Leicester’s winner). It is sometimes a lack of experience.
“The way we concede, for confidence, it is difficult but we have to keep going. We have to improve the things we are not doing well at the moment.
“These kind of mistakes, you cannot make in the Premier League, and we are doing it week in, week out.”
Stats from BBC Sport:
Newcastle United 2 Leicester 3
Goals:
Newcastle: Joselu 4, Gayle 73
Leicester: Mahrez 20, Gray 60, Perez OG 86
Possession was Leicester 62% Newcastle 38%
Total shots were Leicester 13 Newcastle 10
Shots on target were Leicester 5 Newcastle 4
Corners were Leicester 5 Newcastle 6
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Newcastle United:
Darlow, Yedlin, Clark, Lejeune, Manquillo, Ritchie (Atsu 64), Hayden, Merino, Murphy (Perez 71), Joselu (Mitrovic 88) Gayle
Unused Subs:
Elliot, Lascelles, Shelvey, Diame
Crowd: 52,117 (Leicester 3,000)
(Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction after the defeat HERE)
(Phil Neville gives brutal overview of Newcastle team, read HERE)
(Classic Alan Shearer rant against Mike Ashley, read HERE)
If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk