Rafa Benitez says that the incredible support Newcastle United fans have shown since he arrived at St James’ Park will come into his thinking when he decides whether to sign a new contract – but a bigger concern will be whether the club can be competitive enough in the Premier League next season.
In his latest reminder to the club hierarchy about where his priorities lay, Full transcript of Soccer Saturday's brilliant Newcastle United special: Rafa and pundits tackle the big issues that he doesn’t want to approach next season planning damage limitation missions against the top four. Instead he wants to be given a chance to compete with every team in the top flight.
Benitez admitted in 2015 that the amazing show of support on the final day of the season persuaded him that he should stay at Newcastle despite a relegation which, in hindsight, has set the club back three or four years and left the United manager with limited funds in the transfer market.
While he says he will “think about” the way Newcastle fans have shown him so much support, being competitive in a league where he has always traditionally fought at the top end is more important.
Asked whether the fans would come into his thinking he said: “Yeah, always you think about that.
“At the same time in this case I am coming from an environment where you used to win titles. What I want is to compete. To have the chance to compete and to be sure that if you play against Arsenal – we’re equal and we can beat you.
“Not as I was at the start of the season thinking ‘Maybe’ and ‘If we get one point against Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool it will be an achievement’. No, I used to beat these teams so I want to have a team that you can compete and if you manage tactically and do everything right you can win. It is something I would like to do.”
Claims in the national media today that he would “almost certainly” sign an extension have prompted some hope a resolution is close and the noises from both sides feel more positive recently.
But Benitez will only engage in in-depth talks and actually sign the extension – if that’s what he decides – when survival is assured. Newcastle sit on 35 points, seven clear of Cardiff and can surely ensure their Premier League status with a win in one of the three games they play in the next 12 days.
