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Rafa Benitez hits back at Liverpool legends after Chelsea defeat

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Benitez hit back at Souness and Redknapp (Picture: Getty)

Rafael Benitez did not agree with Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness characterisation of Newcastles defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

Newcastle adopted a defensive approach during the 2-1 loss and kept Maurizio Sarris side quiet until a controversial penalty was awarded against Fabian Schar midway through the second half.

At half-time Souness and Redknapp launched a scathing attack on Benitezs approach, with the latter claiming its not football.

Souness claimed that he wouldnt have been able to get away with the brand of football that Benitez was serving up but the Spaniard insists Newcastles current circumstances require a more defensive approach and rejected the Sky Sports pundits claims.

When I was with Liverpool, we beat Real Madrid 4-0 at home and we were very offensive, he said after the match.

Soccer Football - Championship - Millwall v Derby County - The Den, London, Britain - August 18, 2018 Frank Lampard Snr and Jamie Redknapp in the stand before the game Action Images/Adam Holt EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. — Redknapp criticised Benitez (Picture: REUTERS)

When I was at Napoli I was attacking all the time. When you are Newcastle you have to manage because you are in the Premier League.

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You have what you have, so I want to give credit to my players for the effort they make in every game. It depends on the car you have, you have to drive that car in the best way.

It is not about me and the tactics, it is about players, the results and the bigger picture. Last season, we were the best team in the bottom half and we hope to do the same again if we can.

You can be a little bit better on the ball, so I am not happy with how we gave the ball away, but at the same time, we have to understand what we have and how we can maximise what we have.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez during the Premier League match at the Cardiff City Stadium. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 18, 2018. See PA story SOCCER Cardiff. Photo credit should read: Simon Galloway/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. — Benitez hit back (Picture: PA)

I was watching teams yesterday playing 5-4-1 and its said they are great tacticians and they are fantastic because someone has an opinion on TV. But I was watching and analysing the stats and I dont agree with some of these comments. As a manager, you have to make decisions and as a pundit you have to give opinions. Thats it.

I remember a long time ago, I dont know if it was when [Pep] Guardiola was at Barcelona, but they had 80 per cent against Celtic and they lost the game.

Possession is just for the TV, for the stats. It means nothing. You have to do what you have to do to maximise what you have. Everyone has their own tools.

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