Rafa Benitez believes it is just as hard for him to keep Newcastle up as it is for Jose Mourinho to win trophies with Manchester United

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Rafa Benitez says his job of keeping Newcastle United in the Premier League is just as hard as Jose Mourinho's of winning trophies at Manchester United given the gulf in spending.

The Magpies boss was afforded just £36million by wantaway owner Mike Ashley in the summer. His old adversary, meanwhile, invested £170m in his squad.

The two managers meet at Old Trafford this on Saturday evening for the first time in more than a decade, back when Liverpool chief Benitez and Chelsea's Mourinho were fierce rivals in pursuit of domestic and European honours.

Rafa Benitez was afforded just £36million by wantaway owner Mike Ashley in the summer

The Magpies have won just one in six and most recently lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth

Benitez was keen to play down any lingering animosity between the pair, but he did give a telling answer when asked for his thoughts on the best managers in the game.

'It doesn't depend on what you win,' he said. 'It depends on what you do during the week and during the matches.

'It's not fair, because if you have more money, you can buy better players and win more games doing nothing. A team in the middle of the table can do very well to avoid relegation, and that's a massive job.'

Also before the international break, the Magpies lost 1-0 away to Burnley last month

Liverpool beat Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final before lifting the trophy in 2005, and Benitez added: 'When we won with Liverpool, could you say we were the best team in the world? Not really. 

'There were other teams spending massive money with very good players. The difference between Man United and Chelsea (and Liverpool) at this time was massive.'

Benitez says he does not want to make an issue of his past with Mourinho, but he has turned up the pressure on his opposite number by insisting that any manager of Manchester United is expected to win trophies given the club's financial power.

'It's a massive club, they spend a lot of money and they are a team that can compete in every competition,' he said. 'They have to win everything… but that's normal when you're in a club with this potential. They have to compete for everything.' 

Benitez will continue his longstanding rivalry with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho