NEWCASTLE boss Rafa Benitez says his relationship with owner Mike Ashley “not as bad as people think”.
Ashley has owned the Magpies since 2007, but his tenure has polarised the Toon Army who have seen the club relegated and promoted under the Sports Direct owner.
He’s made it public on several occasions his intent to sell the club, the last attempt by business woman Amanda Staveley to buy the Premier League side stalled earlier this year.
The Spanish coach steered the Toon to a top ten finish on their return to the top flight and has demanded backing in the summer transfer market.
Despite reported interest from West Ham, the 58-year-old is expected to pen a new deal, but wants assurances they are in agreement about the club’s future.
He told talkSPORT:“My relationship with the owners normally isn’t as bad as people maybe think it is, because I am fighting for the best for my club.
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“I’m not fighting for what’s best for Rafa Benitez.
“Normally I never have a problem with my contract because it’s more or less; it’s just I want to improve the facilities, I want to improve the academy, I want to bring in better players and be more competitive like that.
DOORMAN’S RAFA BOOB Rafa Benitez was almost turned away from Liverpool’s Champions League party in Istanbul in 2005
“The fans appreciate that; it’s been the same in Napoli, Liverpool, here, Valencia – they appreciate that.
“Then for professionals if they have this vision, they can go one step back and say ‘It’s improving my team, it’s improving my club, it’s improving my business.’
“I think people professionally realise, and then perceptively it depends now the social network changed everything in one minute.
“Some people can criticise you today and in two days’ time they’re praising you.
“If you realise now that it’s like this, then you stay calm and you make decisions in a better way.
“So if you are too hurried to do something you will make more mistakes, so you have to stay calm.”
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