Match my ambition, says Rafa
BOSS SEEKS CLARITY ON BOARD AMBITIONS
RAFA Benitez wants the Newcastle United hierarchy to “clarify” they share the same ambitions as supporters and himself “as soon as possible” – if he is to commit his longterm future to the club.
The Spaniard’s representatives have been locked in talks with Newcastle managing-director Lee Charnley for a fortnight, discussing a potential contract extension for the Spaniard.
However, the discussions are far more wide-ranging than merely Benitez’s own personal situation.
He wants assurances over future transfer budgets, the control he will have over football operations and whether the club’s aspirations match his own.
It is unclear exactly what stage negotiations with the club are at, but Benitez’s tone and his implication Newcastle have not yet made it clear they share his own ambitions suggest he is yet to be delivered the promises he requires.
Asked if he could provide an update on how talks are progressing with the club following Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Watford, Benitez replied: “It is more or less the same situation with the contract.”
Pushed as to whether there would come a point in the summer when Benitez would need clarification from the club as to their future direction, the Spaniard suggested he would like an answer before the end of the season.
He added: “Maybe before the summer, I don’t know, but as soon as possible.”
Newcastle secured safety with five games to spare after passing the 40-point mark with victory over Arsenal last month.
Yet the Magpies have since suffered three straight defeats and, if he is unable to invest this summer, Benitez fears another relegation battle next season – something he believes can be avoided with shrewd transfer activity.
“To do the right things, as I have said many times before. That means to clarify our ambitions going forward,” Benitez responded when asked what must happen for the club to be more successful going forward. “I have to say what I have to say and that is very clear. Everybody, and all the fans, they have the same feeling as me. So it is something we need to clarify.” One of Benitez’s deep frustrations this term has been the fact he has fielded teams at grounds such as Anfield and the Etihad where he has been unsure if they are even capable of claiming victory. Instead, keeping the scoreline down has been viewed as an achievement to protect the Magpies’ goal difference.
The Spaniard wants to construct a squad he is confident can “compete” in every match and knows has a genuine chance of claiming victory.
“I have had three challenges since I came here - the first one was to try and keep the team in the Premier League but we could not do it,” Benitez said ahead of Newcastle’s final two matches against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Wednesday and Chelsea at St James’ Park on Sunday.
“The second one was to go up at the first attempt in the Championship and we did it.
“The third one was to stay up and we did it - and we did it early.
“So I am quite happy overall with the challenges - but still I would like to compete for something more to be sure we can come here and win.
“It is not that we want to go to places against a top side and think if we lose 1-0 we can protect our goal
I am quite happy overall with the challenges - but still I would like to compete for something more Rafa Benitez
difference. That is what I don’t like to do, I want to know we can win.”
Clubs such as Watford, AFC Bournemouth and Southampton have invested heavily in their squads in recent years, while Benitez was only afforded a moderate £45million budget last summer.
Citing Newcastle’s ability to sell out St James’ Park in the Championship, as well as their vast away following in the second tier last term, Benitez stresses the club must strive to compete for a top-eight finish as a minimum, as well as compete for trophies.
He continued: “What I will say is this and I have said it many times before - this is a massive club.
“If we want to compete in the Premier League, and at a good level, then what we have to do are the ‘right things.’
“Then we cannot be thinking that our position is: ‘Oh, we are safe, great.’ No.
“We have 52,000 fans at St James’ Park, between 3,000 and 9,000 fans at away games in the Championship. That shows this club has to be competing to be in the top eight or higher.”
At Vicarage Road, Newcastle were made to pay for an abject first-half display.
Roberto Pereyra and Andre Gray put the Hornets 2-0 ahead inside 30 minutes, while Martin Dubravka made a string of excellent saves including denying Troy Deeney from the penalty spot.
Ayoze Perez did pull a goal back for United, who were far better after the break.
However, Benitez is refusing to allow his players to use speculation over his own future as an excuse for their opening 45 minutes in Hertfordshire.
He added: “No. Imagine that in the first minute of the game or the second minute of the game, when we made a mistake, nobody would be thinking about my contract then.
“We made mistakes, we were not focused - and that is it.”