Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has revealed his displeasure with the club’s decision to head to China in pre season.
The Magpies will be taking part in the Premier League trophy in the Far East this summer, and Benitez has admitted that it’s a journey he could do without.
“In terms of the trip, commercially and financially it could be fine,” he told The Chronicle. “But in terms of football it is not ideal. We prefer to stay close and not travel too far away.
“We do have experience in China and in Asia in general and know what we have to do to maximise the time we’re there. We’ll look to make sure we can compete and use the games to improve the match fitness,” he finished.
OPINION
It’s unlikely that any football manager would choose a summer trip to somewhere as as far away as China if it were up to them. However, money talks, especially for Mike Ashley, and so this is what the Magpies have ended up with next pre season. Having said that, the fact that Benitez is even discussing next summer and what is going to be happening suggests that he is going to stick around past when his current contract expires at the end of the season. That is obviously gigantic news for the club and Newcastle supporters everywhere. However, it would probably be best if the Magpies don’t continue to do things that Benitez isn’t in favour of if they want him to stick around. But it does seem as if he’s made peace with the China trip, even if it’s not what he would ideally want from a footballing point of view.
