Rafa Benitez has one simple message for his Newcastle United team at Chelsea this afternoon and has urged the Magpies to simply: “Stay in the game.”
United were beaten 3-1 by the Blues in the Premier League back in December on a day when they went a goal up through Dwight Gayle at Stamford Bridge.
However, they subsequently switched off and were well beaten on the day as Chelsea secured three points in the capital.
But Benitez believes his team have plenty to take into the FA Cup fourth round clash this afternoon and said: “The idea for us is to start with intensity, focus and high tempo.
“We want to defend well and keep the ball.
“We want good counter attacks.
“My feeling is that Chelsea will go for the game because it’s a massive competition for them now that they can’t win the league.
“I think they will play a very strong team and we have to manage this situation.
“If we can attack and manage in defence that’s what we will try to do.
“If we have to defend to stay in the game and attack later on, we will do that.”
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Meanwhile, Benitez opposite number Antonio Conte has also been looking ahead to the tie, he said: “We must be focused and give everything every day, we have to continue to do this.
“We have to know we will face great difficulties but if we know this we are ready.
“Don’t forget, we missed only one game in the Carabao Cup, we reached the semi-final, and if you compare it to last season we were out after the second game against West Ham.
“Now we have another game in the FA Cup, then the Premier League and then the Champions League starts again, so for sure it’s a busy period.”