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A despairing Rafa Benitez can’t make it clearer “I have tried to do my best but we will see later…”

6 years ago
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Rafa Benitez met up with the assembled press on Tuesday ahead of the St Patrick’s Athletic friendly.

However, this was far more than your usual pre-match press conference…

Rafa declaring: ‘Mike Ashley said (on the final day of the season) that ‘every last penny’ was available…I don’t know exactly what it means.’

It is really excruciating to see a world class manager who has worked at many of Europe’s top clubs, having to discuss the ridiculous nature of Newcastle United under Mike Ashley.

The likes of Fulham, Cardiff, Brighton, Huddersfield and others all spending tens of millions yet Rafa saying he has to sell players or else he can’t bring in any of his targets.

The Newcastle boss though knows that unlike Mike Ashley and his minions, there is one group of people who he can trust, to both back him and who know what the score is: ‘The fans are clever…our fans, they understand the situation.’

Yes, sadly we all understand the situation far too well, been there seen it done it in this owner’s 11 years at St James Park.

Rafa Benitez:

“I am trying to do my best in these conditions, that is what I can say.

“The fans are clever…our fans, they understand the situation.

“Everybody is expecting that if we can compete, we can be stronger (by bringing in new players), then Rafa will be pleased and then is happy here – I don’t think that the fans don’t know the situation.

“I think they understand clearly the situation and we will see at the end of this window how well we did.

“I have tried to do my best but we will see later…

“I have to just concentrate on bringing in the best players for the squad…I don’t do the numbers (money), I don’t control the numbers. I know my numbers but it is not my job to do accounts – it is the owner who decides the money available and that is it.

Mike Ashley said (on the final day of the season) that  ‘every last penny’ was available…I don’t do the numbers and so I don’t know exactly what it means. We are fine in terms of profit so maybe you have to ask Lee Charnley, he has the numbers.

“I am trying to do my best in these conditions, that is what I can say.

“I don’t think an extension is an excuse for anything…because if you sign a one year extension what does that mean for the players you sign on a five-year contract? This is nothing, it is not an issue. A lot of clubs have managers and they then finish a contract but still they improve the squad to be sure that they (the club/team) are better.

“Still, I don’t think it’s an issue with my contract (as to why the training complex and Academy can’t be invested in now) – I told Mike (Ashley), Lee (Charnley) and Justin (Barnes). They know that if we do the right things (and make proper investment), then I am keen to stay here for five years, or whatever.

“But they have to do things in a way that…for me as a football professional…there is a way to do things and we have to be sure that we do those things..

“If you sign an extension for a lot of years then the main thing and the first one has to be the Academy, then all these (other) things, you have to have everything in place…

“I am really pleased with the fans, the city, and the atmosphere at the games, the staff are professional, everyone.

“We have all the potential to grow and to be a top side, a proper top side.

“I hope that I can still strengthen the squad (this summer). I have been trying hard for two months to be sure we have players to bring on loan.”

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