Newcastle United’s combustable striker was subbed off at half time for his own good.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has admitted that Rafael Benitez was right to substitute him for his own good against Wolverhampton Wanderers, The Chronicle reports, as the aggressive streak that characterises his game continues to undermine his career in English football.
The Serbian’s feisty on-pitch persona has divided supporters and neutrals alike since he arrived from Anderlecht in the summer of 2015.
For example, displays of extreme passion such as his refusal to leave the pitch following a severe head injury against Sunderland have been blemished with moments of extreme recklessness, a la his stamp on Kyle Walker on the final day of last season.
As such, Rafael Benitez has trusted Mitrovic to start only six times all season and, although he netted the only goal in Newcastle’s 1-0 win at Wolves on Saturday, his first since October, he was subbed off at the break amid fears that he could cop a second yellow card.
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And the striker has admitted that his manager took the most sensible course of action for the good of the team.
“We spoke in the dressing room at half-time and the gaffer said it will be better if I stayed on the bench because there was a lot of pressure on the referee and it could be a chance to get a second yellow,” Mitrovic said in quotes reported by The Chronicle.
“I think he [Benitez] did it smart and in the end he did it well.”
Wolves certainly made it their priority to play on the striker’s much-publicised short-fuse, Richard Stearman’s roughhouse tactics, coupled with boos raining down from the Molineux terraces, succeeding in winding up the 22-year-old.
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However, Mitrovic must learn to cope with such attention otherwise starts will become even more infrequent.
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