'Sometimes you prefer to be the tail of the lion' - Rafa Benitez on Newcastle in the Championship

The Spaniard's team have made a stuttering start to their Championship campaign and were beaten 2-0 by Wolves on Saturday just a few days after thrashing Queens Park Rangers 6-0.

The Magpies were installed as favourites to make an immediate return to the Premier League after Benitez’s appointment as boss but sit in third, five points behind surprise leaders Huddersfield.

And when asked his thoughts on Newcastle’s travails, the former Valencia, Liverpool and Real Madrid boss offered up the following analogy.

“Sometimes you prefer to be the tail of the lion or the head of the mouse," said Benitez of his side’s status in the league.

"When you're in the Premier League and you are at the bottom, you are the tail of the lion. Some people are happy being the tail of the lion but some people prefer to be the head of the mouse.

“If we make mistakes we still carry on, to realise it's a tough competition and we have to be consistent in the right way.

“If it's good then we shouldn't get carried away. Every game, every training session, you learn something about your players.

"We didn't have over confidence before Saturday's game, you'd not hear anything like that from me. We made technical and tactical mistakes. Some games maybe you can't win, but you must make sure you don't lose them.”

The Newcastle boss was speaking ahead of his side’s EFL Cup tie against Wolves.