I would like to enjoy winning trophies, but at the moment I’m really pleased with the reaction to everything we’ve discussed.
Advertisement
“We will talk, have more meetings and then we will see what will happen”. I don’t have any problem with that.
Benitez and Charnley will continue to talk this week as they attempt to find a basis upon which they can work together in the Sky Bet Championship and ensure that the Magpies’ stay in the lower division is as brief as possible.
“We are working as professionals and we are talking and I think in a couple of weeks maximum, maybe, we will have an idea”. That is not my target. “I’m sure he’ll have loads and loads of offers, not only from the Premier League but from around the world”, added Shearer.
Benitez is keeping his options open, but he will find it hard to walk away unless something far more attractive comes up which would also allow him to remain in England with his family. “We knew that we could stay up”.
Benitez admits he has much to consider. Flattered is the word.
“We have a good relationship”, he told a news conference on Saturday. It was like in Liverpool when we won the Champions League.
“Everything is so good that my heart is very clear”.
“In the meantime, I thank the fans for their passionate support, in particular for Rafa and the team at recent fixtures, both home and away”. There a lot of similarities.
A match that at one time looked as though it could decide both the title and a relegation spot, has instead turned into a meeting of the also-rans.
Giggs wants a bigger role than he now has at the Red Devils, and Carrick is approaching the end of his playing career, so a move to his home-town club isn’t hard to imagine.
“I have the same feeling as the fans, they want a strong team for next season to be sure we can go up again”.
But while there is hope Benitez may stay to lead them into next season, Pardew is convinced that whoever is in charge will need greater power.
Advertisement
Benitez’s retention or otherwise will be key in the decision-making process this summer as the club prepares for life in the Championship, although Ashley will also seek answers from his football board, headed by Charnley, as to what went wrong this season.
