Friday 9 March 2018 15:18, UK
Rafael Benitez thinks his Newcastle side are unfortunate not to have accumulated more points in the Premier League.
Newcastle are currently 16th in the table, just two points clear of the drop-zone, and they host 17th-placed Southampton in a vital match on Saturday.
Asked what he thought of the season so far, Benitez said: "Disappointed, obviously - I would like to be higher. We have a good team with a lack of experience.
"I think we deserved to win some games and maybe managing them in another way, the last 10-15 minutes, it could be different.
"Against Bournemouth (a 2-2 draw having been 2-0 up) we were really good going forward, Burnley was the same (late equaliser conceded), and we have to manage better this advantage."
Asked if Saturday's game was the biggest of the season, Benitez said: "I think you will ask me the same question, maybe against Huddersfield (the next league game).
"Every game is important for us. This is obviously the most important, because it is the next one.
"The difference between top sides and other teams is massive so everything has to be perfect to get points [against top sides].
"When you play teams around you, even making mistakes sometimes you can win, so hopefully we can [on Saturday].
"Until the end we have to keep going. Every game for us is a final now."
Newcastle have 29 points with nine games to play, and Benitez thinks three more wins and a couple of draws will keep them up.
"You never know because everybody is so close but I think 40 will be enough," he said.
