RAFAEL BENITEZ has leapt to the defence of Newcastle United supporters after Rio Ferdinand controversially criticised their attitude towards Mike Ashley at the weekend.
Ferdinand expressed his support for Ashley while appearing as a pundit on BT Sport, and claimed Newcastle fans should be thankful of the sportswear magnate’s continued ownership of the club.
His comments were widely condemned on social media, and while Benitez did not want to criticise Ferdinand directly, he praised Newcastle fans for their sense of perspective given their side’s position in the Premier League’s bottom three.
"I don't even know him [Mike Ashley] very well!"
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 12, 2019
"When they went down, he spent £50m of his own money to get them up. Thank you, that should be."
"By the way, please say thank you for getting Rafa Benítez in! They're lucky to have him!"@rioferdy5 on Newcastle and their owner. pic.twitter.com/9TID7rJpOF
Speaking at a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round replay at Blackburn Rovers, Benitez said: “Our supporters are clever. We have had this conversation in the past, one or two years ago, Newcastle fans want a team that can compete.
Rafa Benitez speaks to the press on Monday. Picture: Scott Wilson
“They are clear on that. It is not that they want to compete against the teams at the top of the table, they want a team that can compete with the teams in the middle.
“I think the majority of the fans appreciate the situation. I have been in football all my life and I know if you are not winning games, people are talking, but the majority of the supporters support the team and support me because they know where we are.”
Ashley watched Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea from the directors’ box at Stamford Bridge, but Benitez confirmed he did not speak with the Sports Direct boss either before or after the game.
The Newcastle boss said: “I didn’t see him (Ashley). I was with Lee Charnley later on, that is it.”
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