Benitez is desperate for new investment to be pumped into the club.
Benitez admitted: “Some players have talked of what we need and I agree.
“You can’t expect any more from them, but if we want to take one step forward we need money to compete with the top four.
“For six months I was really optimistic, especially with this (Rhone) group, but they’re not there now – the Rhone Group has gone.
“For six months I have been waiting for investment and trying to focus in football, and I will do the same again now because it’s best for the club.
“For six years I have been wheeling and dealing to keep this club aty a very good level. I think now it’s time to just focus on football and the game and see what happens.
“When I signed for five more years I knew it could be difficult, but we were waiting for the investment and the players had the same opinion.
“Now we have to stick together – it’s the only way we can help.”
Benitez added: “I have to be positive and think the investor will come. I watched Barcelona against Arsenal, in a massive stadium, big money and lots coming through the system.
“That’s the way to do things if you want to compete at the maximum level.
“A lot of people know the situation and the best way to deal with it now is simply to focus on this game. But I am not happy with the situation.
“You saw the club last year and if we want to go one step forward now we need to do some things differently, and not just on the pitch.
“Every manager can make mistakes, they are different in each club. Others can make two or three £20-30 million mistakes, but not here.
“Here I can make a substitution and people will be talking about it for a week like it’s the end of the world.
“Something has to change, and I have my ideas – hopefully new investors will come and we can talk about those things.
“My responsibility is to be in the top four and progress in Europe. but I have money to spend in the summer – I think. Hopefully it will change for the better then.
“I agree that we need some new players and need to improve.
“But the cost of those players is very clear – if we need three or four, like some people are saying, we will need some money.”
