Steve Bruce says even the 'mighty Rafa Benitez' could not do any better than he did at Newcastle last season.
The head coach was asked on Friday if it was possible for any manager to be successful under Mike Ashley, after pundits such as Alan Shearer and Gary Neville said recently that the owner was the biggest problem at the club.
Bruce said: 'I would ask the question: what do you gauge as success? I gauge success last year as matching Rafa's tally of points (Bruce's side finished one point less on 44).
Benitez finished 10th and 13th during the two seasons he managed Newcastle in the league
'Rafa, who I have obviously heard a lot of and have the hugest respect for, like all you (reporters) have, where did he finish?