Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has urged the club’s supporters to remain calm following the team’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
The Magpies crashed out of the competition to the Championship side for the second consecutive season, as the team conceded twice in stoppage time after Salomon Rondon had drawn them level.
However, when asked after the game if supporters should be worried, Benitez called for calm: “No, don’t be concerned,” he told Sky Sports.
“They knew at the beginning it would be a difficult start to the season so we must just keep working and carrying on. I am disappointed. Everyone could see what happened. I didn’t like the beginning of the game – I think the team reacted well.
“The positive thing for me is you could see the reaction from the team and then we have to manage the situation better. The decisions weren’t in our favour and it was difficult to take.”
OPINION
To concede two goals in stoppage time at this level is simply inexcusable, especially having scored once yourself in that period. They game would have gone straight to penalties if Newcastle could have just keep it together at the back, but they were overwhelmed by Aitor Karanka’s side for the second season in a row. It’s been a rough start to the season for the Magpies, with just a point against Cardiff to show for their Premier League efforts and now this early Carabao Cup exit. When you couple that with ongoing fan protests against owner Mike Ashley, you have the recipe for a city seething with discontent. Benitez will get his ship in order, he always does, but you have to wonder if the Spaniard’s days are numbered at St James’ Park. The fans certainly want him to stay, and Benitez himself seems to have a real affinity with the city, but Ashley runs a toxic football club and there’s only so much Benitez will be able to put up with. Watch this space.
