Benitez calls for united front at Newcastle
Rafael Benitez called for the club's board to back his Newcastle team after they beat Chelsea 3-0, saying: "The potential is there".
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XzpVKDxCBjPfXnN37X2X97.jpg)
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez called for the club's board to align their ambitions with those of the supporters after his team ended the season with a 3-0 home victory over Chelsea.
Dwight Gayle's first-half goal and a second-half brace from Ayoze Perez earned Benitez's men three points that secured them 10th place in the final Premier League standings and ended a run of four successive defeats.
The result gave Benitez revenge for the 3-1 defeat Newcastle suffered at Stamford Bridge in December 2017 and he called for owner Mike Ashley to invest in his squad this summer.
"It was a great way to end," he told reporters. "It was a perfect day for the fans and for everyone as it was a great atmosphere.
"I said before the game it is not about finishing 10th. We want to compete and with the right quality and at the right level.
"The players have done so well. We have to have confidence in this team."
The 58-year-old hopes to remain at the club next season, and said his squad would need reinforcements, especially with goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, striker Islam Slimani and winger Kenedy all set to return to their parent clubs when their loan deals expire.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"I still have one year left on my contract," he said. "The fans have ambitions, we have ambitions and if everyone has the same the potential is there.
"We have a couple of players on loan, some leaving so we have to sign players.
"You need competition to approach any game you want to win. You have to have a squad to compete."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack