Dietmar Hamann has compared Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Former Newcastle and Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has told The Mirror that there is a lot of potential at Newcastle United, and thinks Rafael Benitez could be the Magpies’ very own Jurgen Klopp.
Benitez, 55, took the Newcastle job on Friday afternoon, penning a three-year deal with the club just hours after the sacking of former boss Steve McClaren.
McClaren left with Newcastle second bottom of the Premier League table but just one point away from safety, and that’s still their situation after Monday night’s 1-0 defeat away at league leaders Leicester City.
Now, new manager Benitez must prepare for the biggest game of the season so far, as his Newcastle side host fierce North East rivals Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby, with both teams desperately fighting against relegation.
One man well placed to talk about the impact Benitez could have is Dietmar Hamann, who not only played for Newcastle during the 1990’s, but also worked under Benitez during his time with Liverpool.
Hamann has now told The Mirror that he thinks there is ‘untapped potential’ at Newcastle, and believes they may be the club with the most potential the Premier League.
The German also made a bold claim, suggesting that he thinks Benitez can have a similar kind of uplifting impact as Jurgen Klopp has had at Liverpool in his short time at Anfield.
“There is so much untapped potential up there. Newcastle is probably the club with the most potential,” said Hamann. “Of course, Premier League survival is the aim this season. But we have seen how Jurgen Klopp changed the mood at Liverpool – and I think Rafa will have a similar impact,” he added.
Do you think Benitez can be Newcastle’s very own Klopp?
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