Rafa Benitez was asked directly if he would find it hard to walk away from Newcastle United after an overwhelming show of support following the 3-2 defeat against Liverpool.
After the game, Benitez led his players on a lap of appreciation with fans chanting they wanted him to stay .
When asked if it would be difficult to leave the Toon Army behind, Benitez said: "You know that we have had conversations and we will have conversations in the next couple of weeks and see where we are.
"It's so simple: you have the potential, you can see the potential, you can feel the passion of the fans and what it means for them, this club, so we have to try to compete with the teams that are around and at the moment, it is not easy.
"I am really proud and please because we have stayed up, but I would like to compete for something more. Hopefully we can go closer and we can match the ambitions of the fans."
Benitez said he felt emotional after the battle between two teams that are close to his heart.
He said: "You know that this game was special because of obviously two groups of fans I have the link and the relationship with both.
"And it's always special when you do well and then you go round and sometimes you see someone in the distance and then you see faces and smiles, and it's something that's emotional, but at the same time, is really good."
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