Benitez reveals TWO things that were said in the NUFC dressing room after Saturday’s defeat

Rafa Benitez has revealed two things that were said in the dressing room following Saturday’s 0-2 defeat to Leicester – stating that the players were saying we need to be ‘better on the ball‘ and show more ‘intensity‘.

There’s a lot of things we need to improve on at the moment, and these are definitely two of them.

The lack of intensity was the biggest worry for me. We struggled to create a great deal of chances last season – even when we finished 10th – however having that intensity and drive about our play always gave us a chance.

Here’s what Rafa’s had to say about the dressing room reaction after the latest defeat:

“Everybody was very disappointed.

“They were talking about how we need to be better on the ball and have more intensity.:

Being better on the ball will hopefully improve with confidence (which is very low at present), but there’s often so little options for players who get on the ball at the moment. Our movement has to be much better and our intensity too; there’s no excuse for that.

Rafa then suggests that, despite us not playing well at all, we actually restricted them to very few chances – with their two goals coming from a penalty and a corner.

“We didn’t have many shots on target, but I don’t remember them in open play getting in front of the goalkeeper having chances.

“It was just corners and corners, and they’re quite strong at set-pieces. That was they key.

“I know we didn’t control the game, I know we didn’t play well, but they scored from a penalty and a corner.”

Benitez isn’t wrong here, but it’s not our defence that’s the issue in fairness.

Our problem is our complete lack of goal threat and ability to create chances.

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About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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