Newcastle United have secured their place in the Premier League for another season easily, and one man who deserves most of the credit is Rafael Benitez. With limited financial backing, the club achieved a top half finish last season and even this season they can achieve something similar. It was great to see a manager like Benitez sticking with the club for the full duration of his contract. The Spaniard stayed with the Magpies even when they went down to the Championship and Benitez is an absolute darling of the fans at the Tyneside.
However, recently the former Champions League winning manager indicated that he is unhappy with the club’s ambitions. It is clear that Benitez wants to take out Newcastle from the mid-table mediocrity and challenge them for the Europa League spot atleast.
What did Benitez say?
Benitez was quoted as saying (The Chronicle), ”When I came here, I could see the potential of the club to be challenging, certainly for seventh to 10th in the table but looking higher. But when you analyse the transfer fees and wage bills of other teams, we’re not competing. I am the manager until 30 June. We can see the potential. When you see the teams between seventh and 15th, we have to compete with them.”
It’s clear as daylight what Benitez wants. He needs the backing of the owners on the financial front so that he can compete with the likes of Leicester, Watford and Wolves for the Europa League spot.
Will things change in the summer?
The signs are there that Mike Ashley might back Benitez in the upcoming transfer market. The Magpies broke their all-time transfer record to sign Miguel Almiron in January, and another crucial window can propel the Toon to the next level. Owners are often sceptical about giving a huge transfer budget to managers who are yet not proven. But Benitez has done everything he could have done in the last few years, and this is the best United could get on their current budget.
Benitez has worked wonders as an underdog throughout his career as he delivered two La Liga title with Valencia and the Champions League with Liverpool. With enough backing in the transfer market, Benitez can get them to fight for the European spots and maybe who knows something even more.
What should the board do?
It is time for Ashley to assure Benitez and offer him a contract first to stay at the club. Then he needs to go on and back him up in the transfer market. If the board fails to do this, then they can very much be fighting a relegation battle in the next season if they lose the manager. Benitez has brought them that stability which they desperately need and the transition from Championship to the Premier League has been quite smooth.
