Newcastle United cult hero Nikos Dabizas believes they are having a great season, no matter how it ends.
Dabizas admits that even if Eddie Howe's team ends up in the Europa League places, they can be proud of their achievement.
The Magpies are presently hoping to finish in the top four of the Premier League and qualify for Champions League football.
Dabizas told Chronicle Live: "If you asked anybody at the start of the season what their expectations were, 10 from 10 people would say things will be better than last season. But I think the club have actually over-achieved their own expectations.
"Not from a fan point of view, from the club's point of view. This is a massive testament to the coaching and the recruitment staff, the whole football department really.
"I think it is a matter of doing the right things in the right order. Football will pay you back once you invest in a football sense and do the right things, in the right order.
"When you appoint a sporting director, improve the recruitment and improve the professionalism. When you appoint the right people for the right roles, things get better.
"For me this season though the club has over-achieved no matter what happens now and what the final table will show. Playing in a Carabao Cup final and having the best defensive record in the Premier League, there are a lot of positives."