Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock took at dig at Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United tactics by saying that he doesn’t feel he could set his side up to play the same way.
The Premier League boss shared that while you have to let managers do what they do, he personally doesn’t feel he could watch his side play similarly to how the Magpies played against Chelsea as he likes to give his players something to cheer about.
Warnock also added that at least in Benitez’s situation he won’t get stick from Magpies supporters so he can do what he wants.
“I think you just gotta let managers do what they do, I mean in Rafa’s situation at least he won’t get any stick from the fans so he can do what he wants,” said Warnock on talkSPORT, (Thursday August 30th 9:14).
“In that way he ain’t going to get criticised by the fans and I know it sounds silly but we haven’t got the strikers Newcastle have got, let alone anyone else.
“But I’m just thinking from my own point of view at my age, I want to try and give them (the fans) the best we can to give them in the other half as well as our own half.
“I don’t feel I can do something like that as we’d get beat any how so I don’t want to do that really, I want something for the lads to cheer about.”
OPINION
Warnock may claim that Benitez can do what he wants but clearly the boss isn’t keen on the Magpies manager’s defensive tactics. The Cardiff City manager also feels the need to point out that the Magpies have better strikers in their squad compared to his options and it seems the only reason to do that is to imply that they Benitez should be playing so cautiously as it’s not like he has the worst squad in the Premier League. It’s clear that Warnock is having a dig at the Magpies manager by distancing himself from defensive tactics and it’s unnecessary. Warnock may have made the comments just to make his case by stating that the Magpies have better options up front then him but there was no need. The experienced manager should focus on his own side and not concern himself with what is going on at St James Park. The Magpies and Cardiff recently drew 0-0 so there’s no need for Warnock to comment on his Premier League rivals until they meet again.
