RAFA BENITEZ

in his own words . . .

Some thought you’d struggle but you began this week 7th

OUR players have more confidence now because we are doing well. But we are not saying: ‘Ooh, we have 14 points and we are fine.’ No, no. If you approach the season thinking about having to survive then you will be down there fighting. So you have to approach it trying to be as high as possible in the table.

Where can you finish?

I WILL not say (survival) is the target because then I would be criticised for a lack of ambition. We will look at it again in January and the reason I say that is because by then we will have played the top sides and you will be exactly where you are for a reason.

Mikel Merino cost £6.5m so you can still find bargains?

WE KNEW that it was a good price. He is a young player who signed for Borussia Dortmund, so it’s not like we knew he was a good player and nobody else did. But sometimes you have to act quicker.

Fans criticise Ayoze Perez but do you have faith in him?

I CAN read the comments and some people say this or that. But he’s doing well. He’s a clever player. He has good movement.