Jermaine Jenas claimed that Rafa Benitez’s tactics can frustrate Newcastle United players and specifically named defender Jamaal Lascelles when doing so.
The former Magpies midfielder explained that he thought Aleksandar Mitrovic’s poor disciplinary record at the club was a result of frustration and claimed it was a result of Benitez’s tactics.
Jenas then added that Mitrovic clearly wasn’t alone in his frustrations over the Magpies’ playing style as the pundit pointed out Lascelles had clearly been frustrated over how his side played in recent weeks.
“I think it was out of frustration (Mitrovic’s lack of discipline in performances at Magpies) but yeah I think Rafa’s tactics can do that to people,” said Jenas on BBC’s 5 Live Big Weekend Preview (which can be heard on the broadcaster’s website, 33:10).
“You know we saw a little bit of it recently with Jamaal Lascelles being frustrated with the style of play.”
OPINION
The Magpies captain, who earns £40,000-a-week at St James Park (Source: Spotrac), did show signs that he was frustrated over the Magpies not going all out to win certain games, but that’s probably due to change. Benitez changed his tactics against Manchester United and appeared to let his players off the leash in order to look a more attacking prospect. The change by Benitez nearly worked as the Magpies took a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford but unfortunately for them Jose Mourinho’s side turned on the style in the second-half and walked away 3-2 winners from the match. Given that the Magpies looked better for being more attacking, then Benitez will keep encouraging his side to go forward rather than park the bus like they did in the games against Chelsea and Manchester City. The Magpies face Brighton on Saturday and it will surely be viewed as a winnable game by Benitez. The Spanish manager really needs to lead his side to their first victory of the season in order to stop the critics getting out of control.
