As the players sat down in the away locker room at Deepdale, the energy was noticeably lower than after the Hearts match. Newcastle had struggled in the first half against Preston, unable to break down their high press, and Rafa Benítez was quick to address the issues.
Rafa stood in front of the team, his eyes scanning the room. "Alright, let's talk about that first half. We're giving away too many balls in midfield, and the press is catching us off guard," he began, his voice calm but firm. "We've got the quality to control the game, but we're not using it. I want more composure from the midfield—Tielemans, Shelvey, slow it down, find space, and play it wide."
Tielemans and Shelvey nodded, knowing they hadn't been at their best. Rafa continued, gesturing toward Jacob Murphy, who had been largely quiet on the right wing. "Jacob, I need more aggression from you. Use your pace—get at their full-back, make them uncomfortable."
Murphy nodded, looking determined. He hadn't made much impact yet, but he knew Rafa was giving him the chance to prove himself.
Rafa clapped his hands together, signaling the end of the halftime talk. "Second half, I want to see more intensity. Move the ball quicker, press them higher when we don't have it, and be sharp in the final third. Let's go out there and show them what we can do."
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The second half started with a noticeable shift in Newcastle's play. Rafa had brought on Salomón Rondón for Ayoze Pérez, hoping to give the team a more physical presence up front. The change immediately made an impact. In the 55th minute, Max Aarons sent a dangerous cross into the box, where Rondón powered a header toward goal. Preston's keeper barely managed to tip it over the bar.
"That's more like it!" shouted Shelvey, urging his teammates forward.
As the game progressed, Freddie Woodman was tested with a few close calls, but he remained composed between the sticks, showing why many saw him as Newcastle's future number one.
In the 70th minute, Newcastle's persistence finally paid off. After winning a corner, Tielemans swung the ball into the box, and it found the head of Fabian Schär, who smashed it into the net. The Newcastle fans erupted in cheers as Schär ran toward the corner flag, fist-pumping with excitement.
"GOAL! Schär gives Newcastle the lead!" the commentator announced on Sky Sports. "Great delivery from Tielemans, and Schär rises to the occasion."
Rafa smiled briefly from the touchline but remained focused. His side had struggled in the first half, but the second-half adjustments were paying off. Bruno Guimarães, brought on for Shelvey in the 65th minute, helped control the tempo, and Newcastle looked more comfortable on the ball as the game wound down.
Preston pressed hard in the final minutes, but Ben Mee, brought on as a substitute for Federico Fernández, made a crucial block to deny a late equalizer. When the final whistle blew, the scoreline read 1-0 in Newcastle's favor.
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Back in the locker room, the mood was one of quiet satisfaction. The team had won, but they knew they hadn't been at their best.
"Better in the second half, much better," Rafa said, addressing the team. "But we can't start that slow again. Preston showed us that we need to be sharper from the first whistle. Still, a win is a win, and you showed great resilience."
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July 26: Bradford at Valley Parade
Three days later, Newcastle traveled to Bradford for their next pre-season test. The game at Valley Parade was an opportunity for more rotation, with Rafa keen to see how his squad depth was shaping up. This time, Freddie Woodman got another chance in goal, while Paul Dummett, Ki Sung-yueng, and Ayoze Pérez were all given starting roles.
Before the game, Rafa gathered his team in the locker room, the hum of excited fans outside the stadium filling the air. "We're rotating today, but that doesn't change our approach. I want control from the start, no more slow openings. Be aggressive in pressing them early, and we need more fluidity in attack."
He looked at Ayoze Pérez, who had been quiet in the last match. "Ayoze, this is your chance to show what you can do. Be direct, and don't be afraid to take shots when you find space."
The players nodded, ready to step up and secure another win.
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From the whistle, Newcastle looked more lively. Bruno Guimarães, controlling the midfield alongside Ki, dictated the pace of the game with precise passing and intelligent movement. Newcastle dominated possession, but Bradford's defense held firm in the opening 20 minutes.
In the 30th minute, Newcastle finally broke through. Max Aarons, once again proving a threat down the right flank, delivered a low cross into the box. Ayoze Pérez pounced on the ball, sliding it past the Bradford keeper to give Newcastle a 1-0 lead.
"Ayoze needed that," the commentator remarked. "He's been under pressure to deliver, and that's a well-taken goal."
Bradford fought back, but Newcastle's defense, marshaled by Ben Mee and Schär, held strong. Woodman was called into action once, making a crucial save from a Bradford free-kick just before halftime.
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As the second half progressed, Rafa continued to rotate the squad. Salomón Rondón came on for Pérez, while Isaac Hayden replaced Ki in midfield. Rafa was keen to try different combinations, ensuring every player got valuable minutes.
Bradford pressed for an equalizer, but Newcastle's backline remained organized, with Paul Dummett putting in a particularly strong performance at left-back. In the 75th minute, Jacob Murphy was brought on, injecting pace into Newcastle's attack. Murphy nearly grabbed a second goal for Newcastle, but his shot was tipped over the bar by the Bradford keeper.
The game ended 1-0, another solid performance for Newcastle as they kept their pre-season unbeaten run intact.
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July 29: Mainz at Opel Arena
The final test of the week was a trip to Germany, where Newcastle faced Mainz 05 at the Opel Arena. This match was perhaps the toughest of the pre-season so far, with Rafa eager to see how his squad would handle a strong European side.
Rafa, standing before the team in the locker room, outlined his tactics. "Mainz are fast on the counter, so we need to be compact when we lose the ball. But this is also a chance to test our attacking combinations. I want more from our forward line—let's see more creativity."
He looked at Angel Di María, who had been sharp but hadn't delivered a standout performance since the Hearts game. "Angel, you're starting today on the right. I want you to cut inside and look for those shooting opportunities."
As the team took to the pitch, the atmosphere at the Opel Arena was electric. Mainz were coming off a strong season in the Bundesliga, and they were eager to test themselves against the newly revamped Newcastle.
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Mainz came out strong, pressing Newcastle high up the pitch. Their quick transitions put Newcastle's defense under pressure, but de Ligt and Mee held firm, making key interceptions to prevent an early goal.
In the 20th minute, Mainz broke the deadlock with a well-worked team goal. A quick one-two split Newcastle's defense, and their striker calmly slotted past Dúbravka to make it 1-0.
Rafa, pacing the sideline, gestured for more urgency. "Push higher! Don't sit so deep!" he shouted.
Newcastle responded. Bruno Guimarães and Tielemans began to take control in midfield, dictating the tempo and finding space for Di María and Rondón. In the 40th minute, Di María delivered a pinpoint cross to Rondón, whose powerful header leveled the score at 1-1.
The Opel Arena fell silent as the traveling Newcastle fans erupted in cheers.
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The second half saw more changes as Rafa brought on fresh legs, including Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden, to bolster the midfield. Mainz, however, continued to press, and Dúbravka was called into action multiple times, making a series of impressive saves to keep the score level.
In the final 10 minutes, Newcastle nearly snatched a winner. Murphy, once again using his blistering pace, cut inside and unleashed a curling shot that rattled the crossbar. Mainz breathed a sigh of relief.