Rafa Benitez says Newcastle are 'so close' to their first Premier League win of the season
Friday 26 October 2018 14:58, UK
Rafa Benitez insists Newcastle United are ‘so close’ to their first Premier League win of the season and moving off the bottom of the table.
The Magpies are the only top-flight side yet to secure a victory during this campaign and are three points from safety following seven defeats and two draws from their first nine matches.
However, ahead of the visit to St Mary's to play Southampton on Saturday, Benitez says major changes are not necessary for Newcastle to earn their first win.
He said: "A lot of the things we did last year and two years ago that were right - why do we have to change all these things?
"We are changing little things we have to improve - we have to make less mistakes, we have to be more precise in the final third.
"When you start changing too many things, it's a massive risk. When you start changing this and that, it could be worse.
"We are so close to being out of the bottom three and winning our first game. We have to believe we can do it because we did it last year."
Newcastle's previous league game was a 1-0 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, following which Benitez held talks with Mike Ashley.
The club's owner has been a more visible presence at St James' Park in recent weeks, and when asked whether they discussed the January transfer window, Benitez said: "We are working on that.
"The main thing for now is to focus on the next game and try to get three points. The scouting department are working really hard.
"It was a normal conversation. The good thing is he is coming to watch games. We can talk any time and it will not be news in the media."
