Sunderland's 3-0 win confirmed all the teams that will be relegated to the SkyBet Championship category next season, and one of those is Rafa Benitez's Newcastle. Goals by Patrick Van Aanholt and a brace by Lamine Kone killed the only lifeline Newcastle and Norwich City had to avoid relegation, prompting a number of comments from fans and experts.
As you may remember, Rafa Benitez was sacked back in January by Real Madrid, and even after that failed stint with Los Blancos, the Spanish boss found himself working in the EPL again. Unfortunately for the Magpies, his arrival came too late, and the former Liverpool boss wasn't able to save the club from being demoted to the Championship.
Fans and experts didn't spare Benitez despite coming close to saving the team. Have a look at some of their comments.
In the space of 12 months, Rafa Benitez has gone from Napoli to Real Madrid to the Sky Bet Championship with Newcastle.
— thepunterspage.com (@ThePuntersPage) May 11, 2016
Rafa Benitez, from playing against Barcelona to Burton Albion in a year... pic.twitter.com/SVoomsaiLp
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) May 11, 2016
Double blow for Benitez and his Newcastle side as Mike Ashley's making them work a 16-hour shift in a warehouse on minimum wage tomorrow
— Oldfirmfacts (@Oldfirmfacts1) May 11, 2016
"Here's a good picture of how Rafa Benitez's season looks like"
Foto de la temporada de Rafa Benítez. pic.twitter.com/Ji2EeGKYXO
— Fernando Palomo (@Palomo_ESPN) May 11, 2016
Number of Premier League relegations:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 11, 2016
Rafa Benitez (1)
Sam Allardyce (0)
Blame Steve, Rafa. Blame Steve. pic.twitter.com/DYetgR9mHz
Sacked by Real Madrid and relegated with Newcastle in the same season. Class season from Rafa Benitez.
— MC (@mediocentroEN) May 11, 2016
Stay up at the expense of Rafa Benitez must be peak Allardyce
— Doron Salomon (@DoronSalomon) May 11, 2016
Sunderland winning. Norwich winning. Rafa Benitez right now... pic.twitter.com/RUWuVPYMiN
— TheODDSbible (@TheOddsBible) May 11, 2016
Rafa Benitez started the season at Real Madrid, he's just lined Newcastle up for a trip to Burton Albion
— Martyn Biddulph (@BiddulphMartyn) May 11, 2016
FACT: Norwich and Newcastle will be playing in the Championship next season https://t.co/mopSGf5lGvhttps://t.co/kcgVETMBQc
— FootballFanCast.com (@FootballFanCast) May 11, 2016
!!! Rafa Benitez has been relegated with Newcastle.
— TweetChelseaFC (@TweetChelseaFC) May 11, 2016
Rafa Benitez has never been relegated... pic.twitter.com/mPZbpZLnxe
— Thomas F (@ThomasFrancisC3) May 11, 2016
Congrats to Rafa Benitez who relegated a team to Championship from being Real Madrid manager in 4 months. pic.twitter.com/LMfMnZJYBS
— mephobia (@mephobia8) May 11, 2016