OPINION
Usually, when a player underperforms time and time again, their future will start to look very bleak indeed – but not at Newcastle.
United boss Rafa Benitez has taken time out to defend attacker Ayoze Perez, whose displays have been consistently underwhelming.
“He has quality and talent and he scored eight goals, so he can do these things. Has he got to be more consistent? Has he got to have more pace, more ability?” he said, as quoted by the Chronicle.
“Yes, you can put a lot of things together, but, again I will say, he scored eight goals last year and is a member of our family, so we have to protect him.”
Why Benitez continues to stick to his loyalties in order to defend the player’s poor form remains to be seen, if anything, he is barking mad to do so.
Newcastle are in a dire situation at the moment, and most managers in Benitez’ shoes would have taken action by now and axed players who were hampering the team’s progress.
But not the Spaniard – for some reason, he believes that because Perez netted eight goals last season, he is suddenly going to come good and turn their fortunes around.
However, it is just not clicking for the 5ft 10in [Transfermarkt] player this time around, but Benitez is not going to recognise that any time soon.
Right now, Benitez is the one standing in the way of the Magpies achieving their first win if he continues to place his trust in the flop.
There is no need to “protect” a player who is just not good enough, and for a manager of Benitez’ experience, he must not be doing this.
Until Perez is ousted from the team completely, relegation will surely beckon for Newcastle.
