Speaking on The Beautiful Game Podcast, Isaac Hayden has been discussing Eddie Howe and Rafa Benitez and their abilities to manage the feeling in the dressing room.
Hayden has played under both managers now, and he says that they’re both excellent at keeping the harmony in the dressing room.
Indeed, the midfielder says that the feeling behind the scenes never changed under Benitez no matter how good or bad things were on the pitch, and he says that Howe has a similar approach.
What’s Hayden said about Benitez and Howe?
Hayden compared the two managers.
“It was never too high and it was never too low, we could have won three or four in a row and everyone is getting overly happy, but he (Benitez) was always the same. He would never be too happy when we won or never too sad when we lost,” Hayden said.
“We didn’t win for 10 games or something, and then we finished quite well. He was the master of not being too high or too low, and it’s the same with Eddie, he’s very good with that as well. He’s a firm believer in having that spirit and not being too serious all the time because you end up burning out, because if things aren’t going your way, it’s impossible for the mind.”
Perfect approach
These comments just go to show that Howe may well be the right man to steer Newcastle away from a relegation battle.
Benitez managed to steer the Magpies clear of trouble on a number of occasions, and team spirit played a huge part in that.
It seems as though Howe is equally as adept when it comes to man-management, and if he can cultivate the same atmosphere Benitez could, Newcastle should be able to dig themselves out of the hole they’re currently in.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
