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Rafa Benitez on chances missed, mistakes, and Jonjo Shelvey refusing to shake his hand

6 years ago
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Rafa Benitez helped his team get out of jail today.

After a first half where they created and wasted a handful of chances, they then deservedly went behind on the hour mark as Swansea started to get on top.

The manager’s reaction was to send Joselu on for Dwight Gayle.

Only four minutes after his introduction, the former Stoke striker produced the equaliser.

Rafa Benitez says that maybe Joselu could and should score more goals but basically, that is what you get for £5m.

The United boss saying he would have had to spend £25m to guarantee goals.

Rafa was keen to play down the fact that Jonjo Shelvey refused to shake his hand when deservedly subbed after a very poor performance.

Rafa Benitez:

“It’s something we have seen in the past, we created enough chances to score in the first half and then we concede.

“It’s always difficult to be happy when you draw at home but the main thing is the reaction and how we were pushing at the end.

“We have to learn that every single mistake can cost you and we can’t make these mistakes.

“With the first-half chances we could have changed the game but we couldn’t do it and we must take these chances.

“We know with a new manger they have confidence and are playing well but the reaction after the goal is the most positive thing.

“I thought our mobility and pace could cause problems but Dwight got a kick and I’m happy for Joselu to get his goal.

“In this new world that football is in now, where everything’s so expensive, we knew that Joselu could score goals and make a contribution. He is doing that.

“Can he score more goals?

“Yes. But maybe we would have to pay £25m or something like that (for somebody who could/would score more).

“He is doing a great job for the team and is working really hard, he is scoring goals and I am quite happy with him.

“His attitude has been really good.

It is not just if you score goals, everybody is expecting that a striker has to score goals, but in a team like us that might not create as many chances as you want, then they have to work hard.

“All of them are doing that but at the same time, he has scored some goals, so that is positive. His attitude and behaviour has been positive the whole season.

“When you are not winning a game like this one, any player has to be disappointed if they do not continue playing.

“But we have to make the substitutions and that is it.

“I didn’t have any problems with what he (Jonjo Shelvey) did (refusing to shake Rafa’s hand as he came off).”

Stats from BBC Sport:

Newcastle 1 Swansea 1

Goals:

Newcastle: Joselu 68

Swansea: Ayew 60

Possession was Swansea 58% Newcastle 42%

Total shots were  Swansea 8 Newcastle 12

Shots on target were Swansea 5 Newcastle 4

Corners were  Swansea 5 Newcastle 4

Referee: Graham Scott

Newcastle United:

Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Diame, Shelvey (Merino 82), Atsu, Gayle (Joselu 64), Perez

Unused Subs:

Elliot, Haidara, Manquillo, Hayden, Murphy

Crowd: 51,444 (Swansea 1,100)

(Alan Shearer spells it out after watching Newcastle 1 Swansea 1 – Read it HERE)

(Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to Swansea draw HERE)

(Swansea boss says Newcastle lucky to avoid red card, penalty and defeat – Read it HERE)

(Give us your Newcastle v Swansea player ratings HERE)

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