RAFAEL BENITEZ has played down speculation linking him with the Spanish national team, and reiterated his desire to continue managing Newcastle United next season.

Benitez signed a three-year deal when he agreed to take over at St James’ Park last month, but his contract includes a clause that will enable him to walk away next month if he fails to keep the Magpies in the Premier League.

Current Spain boss, Vicente del Bosque, is expected to leave his position in the wake of this summer’s European Championships, and the former World Cup identified Benitez as one of the leading candidates to replace him earlier this week.

Benitez is aware of the mounting speculation in his homeland, but remains determined to lead Newcastle to safety and continue in his current position beyond the summer.

Benitez said: “I am the Newcastle manager and I want to be the Newcastle manager next year. I am really pleased here.

“Always it is positive when people talk about you, and obviously with Spain, it is one of the (best) teams in the world now, but I am just concentrating and I would like to stay here for a while.

“Is it flattering? Yes, for sure. Del Bosque is my friend – I was his assistant when he was with the first team at Real Madrid. He knows how I work – but still, I think I will be here for a while.”

Newcastle head to Southampton tomorrow looking to close the six-point gap that currently separates them from 17th-placed Norwich City.

Last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at Carrow Road has left them in an extremely precarious position, but Benitez maintains his squad possesses sufficient quality to survive.

He accepts, however, that his players need to address the mental weaknesses that have contributed to a wretched record of six wins from 31 league games this term.

Benitez said: “I think the quality is there, so the main thing for me is the mentality. The team has to improve mentally and has to approach the game with confidence.

“I can say that every day, but the confidence comes with winning games or doing well on the pitch and getting points.

“I cannot say anything against the players. They are doing really well – every training session, they are giving everything and during the games, sometimes it is the anxiety or lack of concentration.

“But you have to improve, you have to learn and the only way is to keep practising every day. They are putting in the effort and hopefully, we can see a positive approach against Southampton and we can do well.”