OPINION
Newcastle United have not had the best of times recently – first Rafael Benitez does not receive the appropriate backing in the transfer market, then his team go on to earn just one point from their opening two matches.
United now face a stern task over the coming weeks, with their next three fixtures – Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal – being regarded by many as the fixture list from hell.
However, Newcastle fans must not panic at the thought of facing three of the top six in their next games, as confidence will be the key to achieving positive results.
This has only been reinforced by United defender Jamaal Lascelles, who told the Daily Star that he does not think these matches reflect a “difficult period.”
The Magpies know that they are more than capable of beating Chelsea after defeating them 3-0 at the end of last season, but this season is different.
They must go out there and show that they have the quality to match the majority of these teams, and that they are not afraid to go out and get the result they are after.
Newcastle only managed to muster a 0-0 draw with Cardiff City, a game which many would have expected them to take all three points from – they definitely did not play at their best, and this was reflected by the limited number of opportunities they created.
They will get found out if they adopt this style of play against the league giants, and Benitez must ensure his team have the confidence to go out and win.
Lascelles points out that “there’s no point in dwelling on the negatives” and that Newcastle “have to stay positive”, which shows the faith that even the captain has in his team after a turbulent start.
Supporters will have their fingers crossed that the team’s confidence will shine through in these fixtures, as it will be key in their quest to get some more points on the board.
