Rafa Benitez believes that Newcastle will need a public holiday if they lift the Carabao Cup this weekend against Manchester United.
The much-loved ex-Toon chief was back on Tyneside for the first time since he left the club under Mike Ashley on Saturday night and enjoyed a great reception at St James' Park as he turned up for Sky Sports punditry duty. Benitez referenced the emphatic 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 on a day when the Geordie fans served up a wonderful atmosphere despite being relegated days earlier.
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Benitez told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "When we won the Championship and were promoted it was massive.
"In the last game of the Premier League in the first year, we played Tottenham who were playing for second position. We had 10 players because of a sending-off and we beat them 5-1.
"The fans were so happy and it was the main reason why I decided to stay, because I could feel the passion of the city behind the team. They are so happy now where they are, but if they win it will be impossible to go there because there will be parties everywhere!"
Benitez was a pundit on Sky Sports over the weekend as his two former sides Liverpool and Newcastle clashed.
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