Newcastle United are top of the Championship under Rafael Benitez.
Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu has told the club’s official website that he believes Rafael Benitez stayed at the club because he had a vision of where they could go, and the Ghanaian shares that vision.
The 24-year-old moved to St James’ Park in the summer on loan from Chelsea, and has taken the chances Benitez has handed to him, scoring on his first Newcastle start. Despite only being on Tyneside for a short time, Atsu has been impressed with what he has seen.
Newcastle United’s Christian Atsu (R) scores their first goal
“You can see that even though we are playing in the Championship, Newcastle is a big club,” Atsu told nufc.co.uk.
“Rafa [Benitez] stayed because he had a vision. He believed the team can go up, and this is what I also believed as well.
“I wanted to join Newcastle, and I believe good things will come.”
The way the Spaniard has transformed the Magpies has been nothing short of sensational, making wholesale changes throughout the whole club, finding Newcastle’s soul again which had been lost in recent years.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
Benitez did not need to stay at Newcastle; he could have gone elsewhere to a bigger club in a higher division, but his vision for the Magpies and the support from the fans made him stay.
The 56-year-old has guided Newcastle to the top of the Championship, and is getting the best out of players like Atsu, who is relishing the chance to work for such an illustrious manager at such a prestigious club.
Newcastle United’s Christian Atsu has a shot
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