Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez is adamant the team has improved under him this season.

Benitez reckons everyone thought his Magpies were doomed to the drop after not getting their first league win of this campaign until November — their 11th game.

He said: “At the beginning, we were losing goals by one goal. No-one expected after eight games that we stay in the league.

"But, little by little, we got stronger, confident. The team was growing in terms of understanding the game."

On his future, Benitez added: “I'm not negative, or too positive. in terms of the conversations on the future. I think that the fans, they want me to stay.

"We have to be sure we have the tools to compete at the level we want to compete."