Former Premier League winner Robert Huth has criticised Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez after he blamed a lack of VAR for his side’s defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
The Spaniard was unhappy with a number of key decisions in his team’s 2-1 defeat at St James’ Park, but Huth believes the Magpies boss was off the mark in his assessment of the game.
“I think he’s [Benitez] hiding behind the fact that his players made a mistake,” he said on beIN SPORTS. “He’s playing the victim card here.
"(Benitez) is hiding behind the fact his players made a mistake. He's playing the victim card. The referee got both decisions spot on."
After Rafa Benitez called for VAR, @robert_huth says the Newcastle boss is simply making excuses for his side's poor performance.#NUFC pic.twitter.com/uDyEvDpaJT
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 9, 2018
“Why is [DeAndre] Yedlin putting himself in a position where he has to make a foul? Why is Kenedy not doing the hard yards all the way back? In my opinion the ref got both decisions spot on. He needs to look at his team,” he finished.
OPINION
Benitez is right to feel aggrieved, in a way, after Sunday’s game because his team were the better side for much of the contest at St James’ Park. However, they found themselves on the losing side so the former Liverpool boss was obviously frustrated after the game. He can’t really have any complaints over the red card, though. Jota was racing through on goal having got away from Yedlin and, even though Jamaal Lascelles was coming over, the Wolves star would have had a clear chance on goal. So when the Magpies defender pulled him back he deserved to be sent off, it’s as simple as that. Benitez was also upset that there wasn’t a red card to the opposition for what looked like a clear elbow on Ayoze Perez. He may have a point with that one. It does look like the Spaniard took a blow to the face and so Benitez does have an argument that there should have been a sending off there, too. It’s hard to judge intent, though, so that’s a tough one to call.