Rafa Benitez done with broken promises

Football Update: AS Newcastle boss, Rafa Benitez has twice let his heart rule his head. There will not be a third time.

The next time Benitez’ managerial career is at a crossroads, he will revert to type, analysing and rationalising in the cold, surgical, precise manner which has become his hallmark.

And that spells bad news for Newcastle.

Because his love affair with the club, its proud tradition, the Toon Army and the North East won’t be contributory factors on this occasion.

Benitez won’t allow himself to be swayed by the love and affection which cascades down from the St James’ Park stands every matchday.

He’ll try to ignore fond recollections of fans approaching him on a daily basis, smiling, shaking his hand and thanking him for what he’s done since arriving at Newcastle in March last year.

Family man Benitez will even discount geography as a prime reason why the Magpies’ job is for him.

Emotionally, the Toon hotseat offers the 56-year-old the best of both words – professional and personal.

He wife and daughters still live on the Wirrall and while this footballing workaholic would never allow family to compromise his job, the current arrangement feels right.

If only, if only. So many boxes ticked, so much to enjoy.

Instead, when a decision has to be made, Benitez will recall how badly he was let down in the New Year when he wanted to sign Andros Townsend and James McCarthy.

It led to talk of him quitting Newcastle in the summer, despite having led Newcastle to promotion at the first time of asking.

Heart ruled head following relegation and in many respects, it was the same this summer when he had multi-million pound offers from China on the table.

When Benitez met Newcastle owner Mike Ashley within days of the Magpies clinching the Championship title, memories of the previous transfer window fiasco were foremost in his mind.

But so too were images of a few days earlier when 52,000 delirious fans serenaded him and his team.

When Ashley subsequently issued a statement announcing Benitez could have “every last penny generated” it seemed all systems go for a summer of regeneration.

The Toon boss had plans, big plans and a list of targets he believed would enable his newly-promoted side to finish anywhere between eighth and 12 in their first season back among the elite.

Whether wires were crossed or promises broken, what Ashley meant and what Benitez thought he meant were clearly very different.

Trust has broken down between the pair, probably irretrievably.

Benitez believes by trimming the squad and the wage bill, he kept his side of the bargain.

But pledges have not been delivered and he’s been left with a squad, which in his own words, will be fighting for survival in the months ahead.

And, again, by his own admission, the signings that have come in, aren’t his first choice, perhaps not even his second or third.

When Benitez reported back to the training ground this morning, the negativity and frustrations which characterised recent press conferences, will have been absent.

Category: Football