Tuesday 1 May 2018 09:32, UK
Newcastle need Rafael Benitez to stay as their manager, according to winger Christian Atsu.
Benitez signed an initial three-year deal in March 2016 and although the club were eventually relegated, they ended the Premier League season on a six-match unbeaten run.
However, the Spaniard guided them back into the Premier League after one season in the Championship. It has been reported Benitez could be lured to another club in the summer, something Atsu is keen to avoid happening.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Atsu said: "We need him to stay because we [the players] love working with him, the fans love him, we both love him.
"We are giving him all the support and we hoping he will stay and work with us for many years, without him things would be very difficult.
"We work so hard, we have a great manager, the fans are behind us. At every game, home and away we have 52,000 fans supporting us.
"We are very happy for the support and we are so proud of ourselves that we are staying in the Premiership."
Benitez said in April he was keen to discuss the future with the club "as soon as possible" before he later revealed talks were on-going to discuss his future.
He has one year left on his current deal and has won 48 of his 108 games in charge.
