Is Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez really the best tactician in the Premier League?

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Pundit Paul Merson has called Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez the best tactician in the Premier League, as the Magpies prepare to face Wolves on Monday night, as per his Sky Sports column.

Merson wrote: “Rafa Benitez is tactically very good, he goes under the radar, but tactically he is probably the best in the Premier League. He gets results against Man City, so they will be hard to beat.”

It’s a bold claim, but one worth examining. Among the clubs outside the top six, Benitez has the best CV and reputation, and is churning a more consistent level out of his side than many of them, especially given his lack of spending power.

He sets his sides up in an organised way, which has frustrated all of the top sides in the Premier League this season – proving that Benitez can mix it with that refined company.

Perhaps only Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino could get close to Benitez among the top six, but of course it is important to remember that they are given more freedom and funding to shape their squads.

Guardiola is the best of the bunch, and he does sometimes come up with fantastic left-field choices for the demands of certain matches.

But he is also prone to being a bit too clever at times and meddling too much – which means that Benitez is as good tactically as any boss in the top flight.