Rafa Benitez says he will not quit as Newcastle manager
Friday 3 February 2017 20:41, UK
Rafa Benitez has insisted he will not walk away from Newcastle after the club failed to make any signings during the January transfer window.
Sky sources understand Benitez had been hoping to sign former Magpies winger Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace on Deadline Day, but a deal failed to materialise before the close of the transfer window.
Reports in the national press on Friday claimed the Spaniard was considering his future at St James' Park ahead of Saturday's home clash against Derby County.
However, Benitez dismissed those suggestions at his media conference, insisting his focus is solely on securing Newcastle's return to the Premier League and not on missed transfer targets.
"We have finished the transfer window and we have a good squad and I have confidence in them. My priority is to make sure we are ready for the next game against Derby, that's it," said Benitez, who signed a new three-year deal in the summer.
"I will not quit, I will not leave because I am happy or not happy. I am ready to fight and to try and get the three points in the next game to get promotion at the end of the season."
Benitez, who spent close to £60m in the summer on 11 new signings, also called on the management staff, players and fans to show a united front.
"I have a compromise, especially with the fans as they've been pushing from the beginning to help me enjoy my job," he added.
"I am just trying to make sure the players, the staff and everyone is pushing in the same direction. So, we need the fans and the experience with this club has been quite complicated for the fans, owner, players and staff.
"We cannot make the same mistakes. We all have to push in the same direction and at every game, with everybody available, that we are giving 100 per cent.
"At the end of the season, I expect us to win promotion and we will enjoy and be happy. We cannot be blaming each other now after the transfer window, we have to be sure that we concentrate on getting three points from every game."
