Sunderland director makes embarrassing comments about Rafa Benitez & NUFC - Unbelievable

Sunderland executive director Charlie Methven has had a pop at Rafa Benitez's 'negative' tactics, criticising his move to put '11 men behind the ball at home' when discussing the 'fearless' of the new ownership on Wearside.

Just when things are starting to look up for Sunderland, you'd think they'd focus on themselves and keep their heads down - but no. Methven somehow feels he's now in a position to question Rafa Benitez after a few wins in the third tier of English football.

When discussing his decision to appoint Jack Ross - a manager known for his attacking football - the Sunderland Director couldn't resist having a dig at the 'negative' Rafa Benitez:

“All three of us (Methven, Donald and Juan Sartori) believe that fearlessly ‘going for it’ - in life, in business, and sport - begets precisely the positivity and desire required to be a winner.

“Conversely, whether it be a previous SAFC manager declaring in August that his team were relegation candidates, or the manager of a neighbouring club putting 11 men behind the ball at home and conceding 80 per cent possession, if a leader’s body language is negative then the battle is already lost.

“Falling short of a stretching target is disappointing, but forgivable. Not even stretching yourself in the first place is the prelude to failure.”

This really is petty and desperate attempt to endear himself to the Sunderland fans.

I'm sure Rafa Benitez - a Champions League winning manager in the Premier League - will be devastated to hear this criticism from a director of a League One club.

Fancy knocking the work of a world class manager like Rafa and talking about what's required to be a winner when your team is two divisions below his. The mind boggles.

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