After 2 failed attempts at picking up Premier League points upon returning from the Championship, Newcastle finally got back to winning ways at the 3rd and 4th times of asking, with consecutive victories against West Ham and Swansea easing earlier pressure and putting talks of another possible relegation battle to bed.
Manager Rafa Benitez wasn’t given much needed support by the board during the summer transfer window, with only 5 new faces arriving.
However, that hasn’t in anyway stopped the Spaniard from giving his best, as he even orchestrated Newcastle’s last victory from the sick bed.
Benitez inspired his players by putting a phone call across to everyone prior to the match, while he also kept in touch with the coaching crew during the course of the Swansea game.
Benitez definitely goes all the way to get the best out of his team behind the scene, and skipper Jamaal Lascelles has revealed yet another way the boss gets his men firing on all cylinders.
The 23-year-old, who is set to have his contract extended until 2022, told BBC Sport of how the boss makes the team demand so much from each other that there are often arguments during drilling sessions, while tempers could flare as things get heated up and “nasty”.
Apparently, everyone gives their absolute best as they compete for playing minutes, with Benitez a rewarder of hard work as opposed to having favourites.
Newcastle host Stoke City on Saturday, and the manager would hope his team bring that fight and drive to the pitch as they attempt to make it 3 league victories on the tear.
