Rafael Benitez urges Newcastle United team to "avoid complacency"

Rafael 'show me the money' Benitez gestures during the Premier League game between Newcastle United and Sunderland on March 20, 2016
© Getty Images
Rafael Benitez warns his Newcastle United team against "complacency" as they try to seal safety in their final two Premier League games.

Rafael Benitez has urged his Newcastle United players not to fall victim to "complacency" after moving out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The Magpies moved one point clear of the drop following last weekend's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Newcastle have two games left to play before the season ends, and every point counts as their relegation rivals Sunderland and Norwich City both have a game in hand on Benitez's team.

"We have to have the belief, but still to avoid complacency," Benitez told nufcTV. "We have to be sure that we do all we have to do, train properly, prepare for the game against Aston Villa the right way and try to win.

"You can't change what [Sunderland and Norwich] do so you have to try to do your best and that's it. If they cannot win, it's better; if they lose, even better. But you can't have any influence. The only thing that you can do is to concentrate and be sure that your team is doing well."

After facing already-relegated Aston Villa this weekend, Newcastle will take on Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park in their final game of the campaign.

Rafael Benitez gives instructions during the Premier League game between Leicester City and Newcastle United on March 14, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester372311367353280
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs371913568303870
3Arsenal371911761362568
4Manchester CityMan City371981070403065
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd36189944311363
6Southampton371791155401560
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham361514761471459
8Liverpool3616101061481358
9Chelsea361212125751648
10Stoke CityStoke37139153954-1548
11Swansea CitySwansea371210154151-1046
12Everton361014125652444
13Watford36128163644-844
14Crystal Palace37119173847-942
15West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom371012153347-1442
16Bournemouth37119174464-2042
17Sunderland36811174360-1735
18Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37810193964-2534
19Norwich CityNorwich3687213562-2731
RAston Villa3738262772-4517