Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has warned his Newcastle squad not to get complacent in their upcoming league matches. The Magpies beat Ipswich Town 3-0 at home at the weekend to go three points clear at the top of the Championship.
The Spaniard told the Daily Telegraph that he is hopeful that the competition for places within the Newcastle squad will force the players to to remain on their toes and stay focused:
“When you are top of the table and you are doing well, you have to be careful And make sure that you don’t have over-confidence or complacency. You can tell the players though, and still sometimes you cannot control everything.”
“They need to be on their toes and they know that if they don’t perform well, someone else will be there. So I think this positive competition is the key to keep the momentum and keep the team winning.”
The message to his players is clear then. Any loss of focus or concentration will lead to them being dropped from the side. With Benitez’s rotation policy and a sizeable squad to choose from, competition for places is fierce and it should, as the Magpies boss asserts, prevent any complacency sinking in.
The Magpies face Preston North End in the EFL cup tomorrow night and some squad players will be given their opportunity to shine, and persuade Benitez that they deserve to start more in league matches.
