Phil Thompson has heaped praise on Rafa Benitez, suggesting that his management of Newcastle United is one of the “sensations of the season”.
The Spaniard oversaw a fine 1-0 win away at Leicester City on Friday – a result that all but guarantees another year of Premier League football on Tyneside.
Speaking on Soccer Saturday (Sky Sports News, April 13th, 12.15pm), Thompson was quick to sing his praises said: “You know what you’re getting with Rafa. He knows what he’s got with these players, and how far he can take them.
“He’s squeezing the last drops out of all of these players, out of this club, and for what he does, week in, week out, it’s one of the sensations of the season.
“What this guy has pulled off, because of the problems the have gone on, he is truly an unbelievable manager.
“He could go anywhere this guy. It’s a small miracle what he’s done.”
OPINION
This is high praise indeed for Rafa, but if we’re being honest, Thompson is probably right. It’s been said a thousand times now, but lord only knows where the Magpies would be without him at the helm, and honestly, he has gone well above and beyond any realistic expectation of him. This Newcastle side, for the most part, is average at best. With the exceptions of the from three, Isaac Hayde, the goalkeeper, and arguably one or two of the centre halves, this is a side that wouldn’t look too out of place in the Championship play-off race. To then turn them into a team capable of going to Leicester and snatching a win, or to go and take all three points off Manchester City like they did at the start of the year, is nothing short of fantastic, and you can understand why the Geordies are so desperate to keep hold of their boss. If he leaves, things could go very wrong, very quickly.
