Rafa Benitez takes a swipe at hated Newcastle owner Mike Ashley by praising new Dalian Yifang chairman’s commitment
RAFA BENITEZ has admitted he has had more meetings in a week with his new club’s owners than he did in three years under Mike Ashley at Newcastle.
The Spaniard allowed his contract at St James’ Park to run out before leaving to take over at Chinese club Dalian Yifang.
Benitez failed to get the assurances he wanted from Ashley and the board over the direction the club would be heading.
And now, writing on , the 59-year-old has taken a swipe over his working relationship with the embattled Ashley.
He wrote: “Since the moment of our arrival we have really been touched by the kindness and respect that we have been shown.
“Our hosts have treated us with great consideration and are always keen to make us happy.
NEW SIGNS OF RESPECT
“As we all know from experience, in football, just as in everyday life, when people show you respect and affection and do everything they can to make things easier for you, life is much happier, even when you face difficult moments.
“I must say that I have had more meetings with the chairman, the president and the general manager this week than I had in three years at Newcastle.
“They haven’t just been work meetings, rather signs of respect in which we have been able to appreciate the differences and similarities in our cultures.”
The former Newcastle chief watched his new team claim a 3-1 Super League win over Henan Jianye.
Emmanuel Boateng struck twice while Arsenal target Yannick Carrasco netted from the spot.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are still in the midst of an apparent takeover from the Bin Zayed Group – but things have gone quiet on both sides in recent weeks.
