Archive
We Must Improve, Says Rafa
Written by Newcastle Utd
Rafa Benitez says that he is looking for improvement from every area of his team when Reading arrive in town on Wednesday
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez says that he is looking for improvement from every area of his team when Reading arrive in town on Wednesday night.
The Magpies take on Jaap Stam's side at St. James' Park (7.45pm kick-off) looking to pick up their first points of the season in front of the United faithful.
And Benitez has pledged that he and his charges will continue to put in the work required to recover from their tough start to the campaign - and, with the Royals test next up, the Spaniard wants to see an immediate improvement from his team.
"We know that we have to keep working hard. We have to have confidence in ourselves, but at the same time, we know that we are strong and we have to show this on the pitch," he said.
"We have had some chances - not too many - but we have to take our chances. We have made some mistakes - not too many - but we have paid for them, so don't make these mistakes.
"We have to improve almost everything, because we could have got results in both games, but we didn't do enough to get the three points.
"We know that it's a question of improving the defence, improving the middle, improving the attack, and if we have players that can make the difference with his quality, or we need the team working as a team to make a difference, we have to do it and we have to start tomorrow."
Successive defeats to Fulham and Huddersfield Town mean United are still without a point at the beginning of their first season in the second tier since 2009/10.
But Benitez says that, while the opening two results were far from what they were hoping for, Newcastle should still "be where we want to be" come the end of the 46-game league campaign.
"It wasn't the best - it was really bad in terms of results - but still, I think that at the end of the season we will be fine, we will be good, we will be where we want to be.
"It's a long, long season, and we know that it is just the start. We have to fix things, but I have confidence that we will do well."
Meanwhile, Benitez confirmed that midfielder Moussa Sissoko will miss the visit of Reading with an ankle injury.