Rafael Benitez reflects on Newcastle United’s form.
Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez told Sky Sports, via The Sunderland Echo, that his team’s early-season form in the Championship was “not nice”.
The Magpies are flying high at the top of England’s second tier and look very likely to win promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Benitez’s side are three points clear of second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion, and eight clear of Huddersfield Town back in third.
They beat Cardiff City 2-1 last time out for what was their seventh successive victory in the Championship. All things considered, Newcastle have been outstanding so far.
But things looked markedly less promising for United earlier in the campaign after losing their first two games, and the veteran Spanish manager has reflected on that disappointing start.
“The team is learning it is growing, because the results are good. At the beginning it was not nice. We felt we could do better,” he told via The Sunderland Echo.
“We did not deserve to lose both games but we had to manage it. “We had to keep sending the same message to the players and eventually things improved.”
Newcastle face a big test of their title credentials on Saturday when Benitez and co visit a sold-out Elland Road to face in-form Leeds United.
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