But Benitez says it’s worth it

RAFA BENITEZ admits staying as Newcastle boss is a “risk” to his reputation – and has turned down multimillion pound offers to leave.

The Newcastle boss says he has stayed with his relegation-threatened squad because they will get the short-term job done this season and survive in the Premier League.

Benitez has moved to sweep away the negativity around Tyneside after comments by leading players Matt Ritchie that the club “lacks belief” and Ayoze Perez that “something is wrong.”

He urged players and fans to stick together to get the job done, no matter what business the club does or doesn’t do in January.

Benitez says he is being out-spent by recently-promoted rivals and mid-table clubs like Bournemouth, who get 40,000 fewer fans at home games.

Asked why he has stuck with Newcastle despite the obvious frustrations Benitez, who also has a £6m “handcuff clause”, said: “It’s a challenge but it’s a risk. Yes, it’s a risk.

“It’s a risk for everyone. It’s not a good situation that we are losing games and we are near the bottom of the table. For this massive city, massive club, to be in a relegation battle again, it’s a pity.

“But it’s a challenge and I will try to do my best to win every game.

“If I make a mistake with the team selection, with the tactics, whatever – fine.

“But in my experience – not that I am better than others – I make fewer mistakes.

“I said before, I wanted to come to England, to stay close to my family. And then this club was an opportunity, to be in one of the top 10.

“You have the top six, and then you could be there, between the seventh and the 10th. That was my view.

“We were trying. We couldn’t save the team in the first year and then won the Championship, so we said ‘OK, now, is the time’.

“Then you say the first year is quite difficult but we finished 10th, now is the time.

“Then it’s the third year, and you try, you try, but… (sigh).

“I had teams, agents, talking with more money than here. But still I want to do something here, I want to stay in England, “I’m close to my family, the fans have been fantastic, so you try to do something properly.”

Newcastle face his former club Chelsea today, with Benitez searching for a way to get points. He will bank up a five-man defence with Salomon Rondon foraging alone up front.

Benitez added: “Am I happy to go in every game and say ‘Can we get a point, can we get three?’ No. But I have to do it. That means I am not negative, that means I am realistic.

“It doesn’t mean we cannot win against Chelsea, we can.

“But everything has to be right. We have to do well, they have to make mistakes, and that’s it.

“They have Eden Hazard, who makes the difference.”