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Keys and Gray continue anti-Benitez agenda

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Image for Keys and Gray continue anti-Benitez agenda

BeIN SPORTS pundits Andy Gray and Richard Keys took a thinly veiled dig at the supposed demands of Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez on Saturday.

The outspoken pair have long been critics of the Spaniard, with Keys the primary antagonist. The highlight of his anti-Benitez campaign was a tweet on his personal Twitter account in January urging Benitez to spend some of his own money at Newcastle.

They continued their stance on Saturday: “Benitez keeps demanding that Newcastle match his ambition,” Keys said on beIN SPORTS. “Do you know how much he’s had in three years? £145million. One of those seasons in the Championship.”

Gray added: “Well, listen, it’s not pennies, is it? But I guess Newcastle fans would say they want him to spend £145million a season, but that’s not going to happen.” What like Fulham did?,” Keys retorted. “[They] Went straight back down. Or West Ham.”

OPINION

If you didn’t know the history between these two and Benitez then perhaps their conversation above would seem like standard punditry. However, Keys, in particular, has a track record of making comments against Benitez. It’s unclear as to why he has this agenda against the Newcastle boss, but there’s no doubt that it’s there. It’s clear that Benitez wants Newcastle to match his ambition, something which Keys and Gray have taken as an opportunity to throw some sly digs his way. Citing the amount of money the Spaniard has spent in three years to try and suggest that he’s being unreasonable is just ludicrous. £145million in three years isn’t a whole lot in Premier League terms, and they spent big in Benitez’s first two transfer windows simply because they were trying to stay in/win promotion back to the top flight. Once they’d achieved that owner Mike Ashley severely reduced his spending. That’s what Benitez is frustrated about; he doesn’t want to simply make up the numbers. However, Keys and Gray will, as ever, look for every opportunity to chip away at the Spaniard.

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