Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez plays down links to Leicester vacancy

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez plays down links to Leicester vacancy
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is refusing to pay attention to rumours linking him to the Leicester vacancy.The Foxes ended Claude Puels 16-month tenure as manager on Sunday after a run of five defeats from six Premier League games.2

Rafa Benitez is focused on Newcastle’s game against relegation-threatened Burnley

The club were also dumped out of the FA Cup by League Two minnows Newport County last month.Benitez, Celtic chief Brendan Rodgers and Belgium manager Roberto Martinez have been tipped to replace Puel.

Who are the favourites to become next Leicester manager?

But asked about the shortlist for the vacancy at the King Power Stadium ahead of Tuesday’s clash with relegation rivals Burnley, Benitez said: “Short? It’s not very short, it’s quite long now.2

Puel was relieved of his duties as Leicester boss following a bad run of results

“I think you know my answer. I am really focusing on the next games.I know we have to do a job, I know that we have to stay up and if we want to do that, I think we have to just stay focused on that.“I understand with the issue about my contract and now this position, it’s something that you have to ask, but at the same time, you have to understand that my main target now is to get three points against Burnley.”Newcastle secured a third successive home league win after beating Huddersfield 2-0 on Saturday. The result opened up a four-point gap on the bottom three, but speculation surrounding Benitezs future remains.The Spaniards Newcastle contract expires at the end of the season.But asked about supporters’ concerns, he said: “I think they will be happy if we get three points against Burnley.”

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A return of just one point from the last six on offer means the Magpies are four adrift of the Canaries, although Benitez insists the season is still young. He said: "If you start in the Premier League, you have 38 games to play - now in the Championship, we have 37 games, so there are a lot of games still to play.
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Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is refusing to pay attention to rumours linking him to the Leicester vacancy. The Foxes ended Claude Puel's 16-month tenure as manager on Sunday after a run of five
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez plays down links to Leicester

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Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez plays down links to Leicester

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Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is refusing to pay attention to rumours linking him to the Leicester vacancy. The Foxes ended Claude Puel's 16-month tenure as manager on Sunday after a run of five defeats from six Premier League games.
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