Rafael Benitez comments on his Newcastle United future

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Rafael Benitez is out of contract at Newcastle United at the end of the season.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has admitted to AS that he is disappointed that he could not invest as much he wanted to when he guided the club back to the Premier League.

Benitez was appointed the Newcastle manager in March 2016, but the former Liverpool boss failed to prevent the Magpies from getting relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2015-16 season.

The Spaniard guided Newcastle back to the Premier League at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, and he also made sure that Magpies retained their English top-flight status for the 2018-19 season.

Newcastle are fighting relegation this season as well, but there is optimism among the fans and at the club that Benitez will work his magic and stave off the dreaded drop yet again.

Benitez has suggested that he has disappointed that promises made to him regarding investment in the squad were not met, and he has also said that fans and players need not worry about his future, with his current contract at St. James’ Park running out at the end of the season.

Benitez told AS: “Unfortunately when we arrived there were a lot of injuries and very little time. We couldn’t keep the team up. But we took a risk, which was to stay and take Newcastle back up from the Championship and then to put together a competitive side to challenge for the top eight… that was the idea.

“After winning the Championship and getting promoted, the level of investment [in the squad] wasn’t what I had hoped it would be and that’s why we haven’t been able to close the gap on those teams above us.”

Regarding his contract, the Spaniard said: “I don’t want the fans or the players to waste any time thinking about that. The main thing is to make sure we stay up and then we’ll talk about projects.”