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Rafael Benitez: Newcastle United defeat by Braga 'worrying'

Last updated on .From the section Newcastlecomments225

Rafa Benitez
Defeat in Braga was Newcastle's second match in Portugal after the Magpies drew 0-0 with Porto

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez says the club's fans "need to be concerned" after a 4-0 hammering at Braga.

Goals from Ricadro Horta, Joao Novais, Fransergio and Dyego Sousa condemned the Magpies to a "worrying" defeat.

"Things are not going well off the pitch and you can see a reflection of that on the pitch," admitted Benitez.

Following the match in Portugal, Benitez said he had "no idea" about any potential new signings at the club before the Premier League season.

The former Liverpool manager said he wants another three or four players before the transfer deadline on 9 August.

"We were poor and we made too many mistakes. We have to wake up - that's it," added the Spaniard.

"You see the teams that have been promoted, the money they are spending. Put it all together and you understand why the fans need to be concerned.

"We are concerned. Everyone in the dressing room was really upset with our performance and with how things are going, but we will try to change things in the next 10 days."

The Magpies return to St James' Park on 4 August for their final pre-season game against Augsburg before opening their league campaign against Tottenham the following Saturday at home.

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225 comments

  • Comment posted by MissChief, at 00:57 2 Aug 2018

    It's amazing Rafa even kept them up last season. If Ashley wants to sell then he needs to make sure they retain their place in the Premier League. With all the money in the game at the moment it beggars belief that Newcastle's biggest transfer is STILL Michael Owen at £16.8million. In 2005!

  • Comment posted by will, at 00:55 2 Aug 2018

    Newcastle do yourselves a favour and give rafa the 100 mil he needs to invest in the squad. u have the money just do it! will be an absolute shame if they go back down again. btw Im not a Newcastle fan

  • Comment posted by CommonSensePlease, at 01:18 2 Aug 2018

    I actually feel bad for Rafa at this point.

  • Comment posted by General G, at 02:24 2 Aug 2018

    By spending money and keeping the club competitive in the Premier League is how you attract potential buyers. Not by forcing a great manager to walk away and another potential relegation to the Championship.

    Benitez is the best thing that has happened to Newcastle in years and Ashley needs to try and hold onto him.

  • Comment posted by U13756404, at 05:04 2 Aug 2018

    It will be a long, long time before Newcastle get another manager as good as Benitez.

    Ashley is a complete joke for refusing to back him.

  • Comment posted by Lesvosace, at 00:54 2 Aug 2018

    If Rafa isn't convinced he can keep them up he'll walk!

  • Comment posted by Arbee, at 01:20 2 Aug 2018

    NUFC very fortunate to have Rafa. He clearly likes the club and the fans and has stayed loyal - I'm sure if he left he wouldn't be short of offers.

    It seems he is after the likes of Rondon. He is clearly also being realistic - just look what EFC have just forked out on a striker.

    He needs some element of backing. If he walks it is bad news for the club, the fans and ironically the owner.

  • Comment posted by U17005086, at 03:37 2 Aug 2018

    Such a shame!!

    Great club, great manager, lousy owner!!

    I feel for Rafa and the fans!!

  • Comment posted by Captain Armorica, at 02:43 2 Aug 2018

    Rafa must be a glutton for punishment sticking at clubs with dolts for chairmen

  • Comment posted by TCee, at 02:37 2 Aug 2018

    I'm a Man Utd fan and I think Newcastle should do whatever they can to hold onto Rafa, because he is a rare commodity today a manager who has shown loyalty to the fans of his club. He is a proven manager who will never be short of suitors. Perhaps he is just holding on to see what is going to happen at Man Utd with Jose showing signs of the 3 year itch!!!

  • Comment posted by U16905666, at 06:34 2 Aug 2018

    So, you won't back a manager of Rafa's calibre but you'll give Pardew a free reign? I hope Newcastle don't get relegated again, for the supporter's sake. For a team in their position the support has always been immense.

    On the other hand, I'd happily see Newcastle in League One just to see Mike Ashley jog on.

  • Comment posted by me, at 04:02 2 Aug 2018

    Hope you get hammered first match of the season, I think Newcastle are a big club with great support and they are being let down terribly by the fat little "Bling Boy". He will buy you players from any country where he can see an opening for SD, he doesn't really give a shit about NUFC, he just wants it to make a quick buck and flog it to anyone, he won't care what happens to NUFC post sale.

  • Comment posted by EzPz, at 02:46 2 Aug 2018

    It's like Ashley is wanting a psycho to react and do something bad... how could he be so naive to think Newcastle will stay up with this lack of signings... It's obviously that spending £50m can keep you in the keague continuously and you'd still be making a profit!

  • Comment posted by Richard, at 07:10 2 Aug 2018

    As long as Ashley is in charge this club will forever be shackled.
    All he cares about is his coffers & his brand. Nufc are a marketing platform for his utterly awful tat.

  • Comment posted by U17094044, at 04:51 2 Aug 2018

    Ashley has screwed the club over so many times but he has now gone too far. My heart bleeds for Rafa after tonight's post match press conference. In Rafa Benitez we have one of football's greatest managers and a true gentleman. This is no way to treat the man, time for Cashley to sell up and go before the club is ruined.

  • Comment posted by Baron of Brierdene, at 01:53 2 Aug 2018

    I remember the chants of "Sack the board" and "Westwood out" but any of our chairmen or boards is preferable to the current incumbent. I've followed them since the days of Stan Anderson, Jim Iley Alan Suddick et al but the lack of investment is worse than anything in memory. I'm temped to say, RIP NUFC.

  • Comment posted by Vicarage Road, at 02:40 2 Aug 2018

    I reckon Ashley’s waiting for his bank balance to reach 100,000,000,000 before he spends any money 💰

  • Comment posted by BLAGADON1, at 07:01 2 Aug 2018

    If Ashley wants to sell so much why didn't he when he had the chance? Surely a Premier league club is more valuable than a Championship one. So spend a bit to maintain Premier status. Can't believe anyone would defend Ashley.

  • Comment posted by atom1979, at 08:16 2 Aug 2018

    It's a bloody shame what's happening at Newcastle.

    As a Man Utd fan I remember 'that' season so fondly.

    With ticket revenue, and TV money they should be spending.

    It's all good and well saying Ashley is balancing the books, but he's milking the club of lost advertising revenue, and seems content to allow them to struggle year in year out.

    Imagine it was your club

  • Comment posted by Stevat, at 07:09 2 Aug 2018

    #32, they're one of the few clubs where their gate covers their players wages. Rake in loads of money in sponsorships and circa £170m in TV deal money and are always in profit on transfers. Never spend on facilities or infrastructure. Also, in spite of turning huge profits year on year they still owe a huge chunk of that original loan. Inexplicable.

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