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Rafa Benitez has riskily just said he’s ‘glad’ Mike Ashley is coming to games
Newcastle United manager appears to be putting his relationship with the fans at risk following his latest comments on Mike Ashley.
The Spaniard is already under pressure to turn things around, with the Magpies winless so far this season.
The Toon Army are rock bottom of the Premier League and are seriously struggling to score goals.
There is a fair amount of animosity surrounding the club at present as the team struggle for results, and there is no more unpopular a figure than club owner, Mike Ashley.
His lack of investment, and apparent desire to use Newcastle to line his own pockets down the years have made him public enemy number one.
Rafa’s latest comments are very risky
Benitez has had his say on the fact that Ashley has attended the last four Newcastle games.
Fans have protested his attendance, but Benitez appears to be siding with the Staffordshire-born businessman.
He said, : “The good thing is he is around and coming to games. The focus is now Southampton.”
“The January transfer window is something we have spoken about behind the scenes, but that is not the focus now.”
Describing Ashley turning up to games as a ‘good thing’ surely opens Benitez up to criticism.
Fans will see that as endorsing the owner, and they will not take kindly to him ‘siding’ with Ashley, as in their eyes he is destroying their beloved club.
Benitez has done a lot of good at Newcastle, but the last thing he wants to do is give the fans that idolise him reason to turn their backs.