Benitez’s Newcastle United are in the Premier League’s relegation zone and the director of League One Sunderland could not help but comment.
Sunderland’s executive director Charlie Methven (above, right) has already developed a reputation for being rather outspoken since he arrived at the Stadium of Light alongside new owner Stuart Donald earlier in the year.
And Methven has now risked sparking a potential row with local rivals Newcastle United by not-so-subtly criticising Rafa Benitez’s oft-discussed tactics in the recent defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City.
Benitez has been questioned in some quarters for a perceived overly negative approach against the Premier League big boys, where Newcastle sat back and attempted to soak up the pressure, only to lose 2-1 on each occasion.
And, in quotes reported by the Chronicle, Methven has had his say; with a little dig at former Sunderland boss David Moyes thrown in.
“Whether it be a previous SAFC manager declaring in August that his team were relegation candidates, or the manager of a neighbouring club putting 11 men behind the ball at home and conceding 80 per cent possession, if a leader’s body language is negative then the battle is already lost,” Methven insisted.
“Falling short of a stretching target is disappointing, but forgivable. Not even stretching yourself in the first place is the prelude to failure.”
Newcastle’s cautious approach has somewhat backfired with Benitez’s team picking up just one point from four games so far.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are reaping the rewards of putting their faith in the rookie manager Jack Ross, who is unbeaten after six League One fixtures.
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