The Magpies welcome Chelsea to St. James’ Park on Sunday having long made sure of their top-flight safety, sitting an impressive tenth ahead of their final outing this term.
Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley was their fourth on the trot, however, and another reverse against the Blues would actually surpass their longest losing run of the season so far.
With Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth and Watford all level on points with United – and Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United within striking distance, too – Benítez talked of how he had reiterated the significance of Sunday’s clash to his troops as they look to send the Gallowgate faithful home happy for the summer.
“As I have said so many times, it has been a great season. I think, at the beginning, we were thinking that the target was to stay up. I read a lot of managers saying now, ‘We’re safe – it has been a great season.’ But we were safe five games before (the end), so that is amazing. And for me, the key has been the unity and the togetherness between the fans, players and staff, and the work-rate of this group of players,” he said.
“I said to my players today that (Sunday) will be important. They have done so well during the season, they have to go to the end – especially playing at home – and try to finish on a high. I think they deserve that, and I think the fans deserve to see the team winning the last game.”
Premier League champions last time out, Chelsea head to Tyneside in grave danger of missing out on a place in the top four, requiring victory against the Magpies as well as a Liverpool slip-up at home to Brighton.
They have the small matter of an FA Cup final next Saturday, too, but Benítez does not expect opposite number Antonio Conte to think of Sunday’s clash as a dead rubber.
“We knew before these two games, against Tottenham and Chelsea, they could be dangerous because they could be fighting for the top four. Unfortunately, it is like that, but we have to try and do our best in front of our fans and try to get points,” he said. “To be in the Champions League is massive for them. I think they will have to do that, and I’m sure they have enough quality in the squad to do both.”
