Sky sports pundit Jamie Carragher has spoken about his former manager Rafael Benitez and given his verdict on this season’s intriguing relegation battle which is likely to go down to the wire.
The Liverpool legend who won the Champions League with Benitez admitted something had to change at Newcastle, and it had to be Steve McClaren.
‘It was a decision they had to make. They had to change something and you can’t get rid of all the players. If some clubs could I think they would, and I think there’s a lot of poor players in that Newcastle squad if I’m being honest. That’s why they’re down there. They went to the last day last season and stayed up with John Carver.’
‘But they’ve made that change and it had to happen. In Rafa Benitez they’ve got one of the best managers out there who is not in a job.’
‘I don’t think they could have got anyone better, with the CV he’s got.’
But Carragher pointed out the fact that you’d have to go back more than 10 years until he has experienced this sort of situation with this calibre of players. But he does believe that Rafa will make Newcastle a lot more organised defensively which will make them a lot harder to be defeated.
When asked if it was a case or quality or attitude at Newcastle Carragher answered by saying:
‘I think it’s a bit of both. With the quality of player they have there they possibly shouldn’t be fighting relegation and be second bottom, where they are. But they are certainly not a top eight team, as I think was the requirement of Steve McClaren at the start of the season from the owner. I don’t think there was ever a chance of that.’
‘They’ve got better quality than where they are in the league and it’s up to Rafa Benitez to try and encourage them to show that.’
However, the former Liverpool centre-half favours Sunderland in the relegation battle due to Sam Allardyce’s experience in this position.
Carragher reckons that Benitez will come to the King Power Stadium with a sound plan that will avoid a repeat of the 3-0 drubbing at St James’ Park in November.
‘The plan has to be to stop Leicester’s counter-attack. I expect Newcastle to play very deep and look to counter-attack themselves. He’ll be well aware of what Leicester are about. He hasn’t been managing in the Premier League but he’s been watching lots of games, he’ll be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of Leicester.’
