BENITEZ: I’M MORE IN TOON THAN EVER

RAFA BENITEZ has insisted he is a better manager now than at any time in his career.

The Spaniard celebrated three years in charge of Newcastle on Monday, saying the club needs three more years of building up.

Benitez (below) reckons his current knowledge and experience beat the skills he had when he led Valencia to La Liga or Liverpool to the Champions League.

He rates the past three years, which have included a relegation after a short spell in charge, winning the Championship, then finishing 10th in the top flight, as a good achievement. Benitez said: “Every year, I’m watching games, reading magazines and taking notes, and all my life has been spent this way. “Yesterday, I received information about new software. I’ve talked to referees about the new rules. Analysed video, penalties, VAR.

“Every day I’m learning. Battling relegation in the Premier League, winning promotion. I’ve had to learn things. I have gained massive experience.

“The challenge for me, as a manager, has been really good,” he said. “We lost very important players when we were relegated.

“Little by little, we were building something new. What do we have now? A team that we know, in which everybody cares and is focussed.

“When I arrived, we had very good players in an environment that was not ideal. These players are in an ideal environment.”

But Benitez batted away every question about a new contract at the club, adding: “I am concentrating on playing Everton.”