Staying calm and patient is key – Benitez

Chief Sports Writer RAFA Benitez insists he is relaxed about Newcastle United’s current run of form in the Premier League because he knew this season would throw up some difficult moments.

The Spaniard, though, knows that things will get easier for the Magpies in the coming months as his team adjust to life back in the top-flight and the club look forward to an increased transfer kitty and wage budget from May onwards.

United chief Benitez has been given assurances that there will be money to spend in January too regardless of whether there is a takeover at St James’ Park or not.

Benitez stated last week he wanted fans to stay calm in the weeks ahead and believes that Newcastle will soon be competing with other top-flight clubs when it comes to improving his squad.

He told the Chronicle: “After some months this team will be stronger because they continue to work very hard.

“Then we will stay in the Premier League, we’ll get money from the TV and we can compete against teams we couldn’t this year because of wages and transfers.”

Benitez admitted that newlypromoted Newcastle had to cut their cloth accordingly last summer.

He said: “You can talk about players at Bournemouth or Burnley that we couldn’t sign because we couldn’t afford the fee or their wages.

“We’re now in a really good position. We have to enjoy it and stay calm and support the team. We’re not at the bottom of the table.

“It could be worse and could be better but we must stay calm.”

Recent games against Burnley and Bournemouth have resulted in narrow Premier League defeats and he spoke about the complexities of life back in the big time compared to the Sky Bet Championship last term.

The former Real Madrid and Liverpool boss explained: “Can you guarantee we’ll score goals?

“No, you can’t because other teams set themselves up to defend.

“We have to learn that we are a team working hard and giving everything for the fans and the club. Home and away they appreciate that.

“We can’t control what they are saying on social media now because there’s a lot of people on there. But the real fans were upset on September 1 because we didn’t have a massive transfer window. The only way now for us to compete and stay in the Premier League this year is to stick together.”