Rafa Benitez urges Newcastle fans to unite behind team in battle against relegation
Saturday 12 March 2016 13:42, UK
Rafa Benitez has called on the Newcastle fans to unite behind the team in the final 10 games of the season.
Benitez was appointed manager on Friday, just hours after the sacking of Steve McClaren, and has been tasked with saving the club from relegation, with United currently 19th in the table, one point from safety.
Benitez's first game in charge is a daunting Monday Night Football trip to Leicester and the Spaniard wasted little time in getting to work, calling the players in from a day off to take his first training session on Friday afternoon.
But the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss knows the importance of the fans in Newcastle's survival bid and says they will be vital in restoring confidence in the players.
"Every time I have had to come here in the past it was difficult," he told the club website. "It was a very intimidating atmosphere, the fans were behind the team. That is the key for the future, the fans.
"We have to be calm, support the team and stick together. We cannot worry about mistakes from the past. We have to concentrate and stick together because that will be the key.
"One of the key decisions for me coming here was the fans. I know they are upset now, but I am sure they will be supporting the team. We have to stick together.
"If I make a mistake, if a player makes a mistake, we have to just carry on and keep pushing in a positive way and help the team to perform because they can make the difference.
"You can smell football here, so it's important to have the support of everyone and we will do our best and try to win from the first game. If we do, fine, if not we have to keep going to the end. We have 10 games, every game is important to us."
Benitez was pleased with the reaction of the players to being called in for extra training and has demanded similar commitment from them from now until the end of the season.
"They trained really well. Credit to them that they wanted to impress. They have to try their best and we will decide which players are available for the next game, but all will be important for the next 10 games.
"They have to give everything and have to think in a positive way. It's not easy. Don't think too much about the past. Concentrate on the next game, try give your best every training session and every game. If the commitment is there, hopefully we will do well."
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