Watch: Rafa Benitez 'won't let the fans down' after Newcastle exit FA Cup to Chelsea



Rafael Benitez has dismissed reports he could leave Newcastle United, insisting he will "continue to work hard" to achieve the club's targets.

Negotiations regarding a takeover of the Premier League club have been ongoing for months, with the initial hope a deal would be concluded by the start of January in order to use the month for the new owners to invest in the squad during the mid-season transfer window.

With just two days remaining until the transfer deadline, the proposed takeover looks no closer to being completed, leading to media reports which claim Benitez has become frustrated at a lack of support as the Spaniard aims to keep Newcastle in the Premier League following their promotion. Newcastle are currently 15th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.

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Read more:

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However, Benitez has said he has no intention of leaving the club and remains committed to his job.

"I think the fans are very clever. They know what is going on and then what we have to do is to make sure I don't let them down," Benitez said after Newcastle's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

"So I want to keep going - I am a professional and I want to do well, so I am happy in the city with the fans, and I can see the potential of the club but we have to be sure that everybody understands the message and that we have the same idea.

"We are on the same page and we keep working hard, so I'm sure I will continue to work as hard as I'm working now with all my staff with all these players, and trying to improve the team."

Newcastle next face Burnley in a Premier League tie at St James' Park on Wednesday.

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England's lowest Test innings

- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887

- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994

- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009

- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948

- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888

- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018

Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier

Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman

UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah

New Zealand 57-0 South Africa

Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett

Results

Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent

Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent

Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent


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