Rafael Benitez backs angry Newcastle fans in bitter row with Toon owner Mike Ashley

Rafael Benitez is backing angry Newcastle supporters in their fight with club owner Mike Ashley.

The Magpies Group is planning a protest outside Ashley’s Sports Direct store in the city centre ahead of tomorrow’s game.

Boss Benitez said: “I have a lot of sympathy for our fans as they are really good. They know the city, the club, the north east and how well you can live here. They know all these things.

“They would like to see the club do things in one way.

“We have the potential to be a massive club, but we have to do things right.”

Benitez also backed former club Chelsea to be part of a three-way battle for this season’s Premier League crown.

The Spaniard, who spent six months in interim charge at Stamford Bridge, delivering Europa League success and a third-placed finish, is confident the Blues will be title contenders once again under new boss Maurizio Sarri.

Benitez’s Newcastle will welcome Sarri’s men to St James’ Park on Sunday and when asked if they can win the league this year, the Magpies manager said: “I think so.

“Maybe at the moment, there are three teams that you could say that they are a little bit ahead of the others, for me – Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City – because of the level, the performances last year and the money they spent.

“Then Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal, they have to go back to things they were doing well. They have quality in the squad and they can compete, for sure.

“But if you have to pick three, I will pick these. They have enough quality to do well.”

Benitez is well aware of Sarri’s qualities, having seen the Italian follow him into the Napoli hot seat and guide the club to three successive top-three finishes.

He said: “We did what we had to do. He did well, played good football and they had a very good group of players.

“We were an offensive team in Italy playing well, and he received this group and he carried on working with them and was doing well.”

Newcastle brought down the curtain on last season with a fine 3-0 win over Chelsea on Tyneside to secure a 10th-placed finish on their return to the top flight.

Benitez knows how much effort that took and a disappointing summer transfer window has left him preparing for another survival battle.

He said: “We finished 10th, but could have finished 15th or 17th. It was just one game, that’s it.

“If we think in the city and at the club that we finished 10th and that’s it, we are… No, we finished 10th because everything was really, really good. We cannot lose our focus.”