Matt Ritchie has lifted the lid about life under Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United.
The Newcastle United fan favourite has revealed how he initially never believed that the former Real Madrid manager's tactics wouldn't work in the Premier League..
The former Swindon Town man, who has been interviewed by his ex-team-mate Luke Rooney, admits that Benitez irked players with some of his remarks in the Press but every player was eager to impress him.
Indeed, Benitez told journalists that it would be a "miracle" if Newcastle stayed up in 2018 and 2019.
Ritchie said: "With Rafa Benitez some of the stuff tactically we were doing I was sitting watching thinking: 'This is never going to work ever'.
"Then we'd go and beat somebody 1-0, unbelievable.
"We beat Arsenal at home and there were some away games we done really well in.
"We'd never get a kick of the ball and (Gary) Neville would be going bananas in the commentary but the boys are getting on the bus after winning 1-0 and couldn't give a hoot.
"We were buzzing but there was a bit of genius about it."
And when talking about the reaction of the dressing room when Benitez spoke about working a miracle in the last two campaigns, Ritchie, in an interview with In The Box, said: "He used to batter the players in the Press.
"These players are donkeys or to win with these players I'm a genius.
"All the lads used to be saying: 'How's he saying that? We're going to run about for him on Saturday!'
"Di Canio (who Ritchie starred for at Swindon) had a similar thing he made you want him to love you.
"Rafa never said: 'Well done' to me.
"I scored a goal against Burton to win when we were pushing for promotion.
"I came off the pitch thinking: 'He must be buzzing with me!'
"He said something like: 'You need to tuck in closer to the midfield when we don't have the ball!'
"He never said well played but he had that knack and everybody respected him.
"Whatever he said everybody listened.
"He was a top coach and I learned so much."
