The Spaniard has awoken the sleeping giants that are Newcastle United, and he has done it his way.
Rafael Benitez has brought hope back to Newcastle United Football Club.
After trying in vein to save them from relegation, he led them to the Championship title and now 7th in the Premier League, all in the space of 19 months.
He hasn’t done it in the exciting and energetic manner of Kevin Keegan or Sir Bobby Robson, managers whose styles of football have proved difficult to follow at St James’ Park.
He’s done it the Rafa way – by building from the back, as this fact courtesy of The Exiled Geordies proves:
That is an incredible change of 1.75 goals conceded per game to 0.92.
Although a large proportion of Benitez’s 65 matches in charge have been in the Championship, Newcastle’s defensive record in the Premier League is much improved, 20 goals conceded in 19 games at 1.05 per outing.
Only the top three teams in the league have leaked fewer than Newcastle’s eight league goals this term.
Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace was Newcastle’s third clean sheet of the season, and they are yet to concede more than two in a game, which means they are always in with a chance.
We know how much Benitez loves facts, and these will make pretty reading for the Spaniard.
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