Wednesday night saw interim Blues boss Benitez become the first manager since Roman Abramovich bought the club to oversee two goalless draws in his opening two games in charge.
He is also the first not to win one of his first two matches under the Russian, while Chelsea have now failed to score in three successive games for the first time in the Abramovich era.
The five-hour, 21-minute drought has done nothing to quell the supporter unrest over Roberto Di Matteo's sacking and Benitez's appointment as his replacement.
Having been jeered, abused and subjected to banners protesting his very presence in the home dugout at Stamford Bridge, Benitez could be forgiven for letting out all his frustrations if Chelsea do score at Upton Park on Saturday.
But the Spaniard, renowned for his muted goal celebrations, said: "I don't think so.
"You know me. I am really proud when we score and do things well, but sometimes, when you score, it's the time to talk to players.
"Some managers like to jump around and roar. The fans sometimes enjoy this."
Benitez, who insisted a goal would mean nothing tomorrow if it was not followed by a win, added: "When you're the manager, you want to celebrate but each celebrates in his own way.
"I'm happy inside and try to be ready for the next one."
Despite refusing to put on a show for the fans, Benitez is keen to build bridges with them, even though they appear to read something negative into everything he does.
The former Liverpool boss was attacked for wearing a 'red' tie during Wednesday night's game with Fulham, even though it was orange.
"My first tie was blue," Benitez said of the outfit he wore against Manchester City.
"I have a lot of respect for all my clubs. If not, I'd wear white for Real Madrid because I was there when I was 11."
The sense of Benitez struggling to fit in at Stamford Bridge was compounded by his struggles fitting into his official club suit.
"The Italian style is different," he said.
"It's really nice, but it's a style for young people, not old people.
"Over 25, everyone is different. The Italian style is more for players.
"They have to make the right one. The colours are the colours."
Benitez is not the only Spanish misfit at Stamford Bridge, with Fernando Torres's travails showing little sign of ending under the man who helped him become one of the best strikers in the world.
His 10-hour, 49-minute personal goal famine in the league has cast doubt over his long-term future.
It has also raised questions over whether what he really needs is to be withdrawn from the firing line.
Benitez admitted it was hard to help Torres solve his problems while he was playing twice a week.
"I don't want to talk just about Fernando," he said.
"You can see the team needs to improve a bit physically. You cannot do that if they play two games in a week.
"Sometimes, you can do it with one game a week, with a physical programme in between. But not with two games a week.
"It's very demanding. Teams who play just in the Premier League, and not in Europe, have a week to prepare the team."
Pressed on whether Torres would benefit from a rest, Benitez pointed out Daniel Sturridge was injured, and added: "Any of our players, with a whole week of training, it would be fine for all of them - not just Fernando."
Chelsea have shown remarkable patience with £50million man Torres, which is more than can be said for Liverpool and the man they signed to fill the void left by the Spaniard.
Torres will come face to face with his replacement tomorrow when £35million forward Andy Carroll continues his loan spell at West Ham.
There were reports last year that Carroll might have been available for as little as £1million in 2009 and Benitez admitted the Reds missed the chance to save themselves at least £30million.
"He played the Youth Cup at Anfield and we were watching him, a young player with power," he said.
"It was an option, he was cheaper. Take the 'three' off the £35million. Quite cheap."
Post Comment
