Benitez wants Chelsea unity

Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez says his team must play as a unit if they are to have a chance of beating Manchester United in the FA Cup.

Last Updated: 10/03/13 at 15:40 Post Comment   

Rafa Benitez: Wants his Chelsea side to play as a unit against Manchester United

Rafa Benitez: Wants his Chelsea side to play as a unit against Manchester United

The holders travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to take on the Premier League leaders in their quarter-final tie.

Interim Blues boss Benitez is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing his side but believes they have the quality to progress.

"It will be a tough game against a good team who are top of the table. It's an away game for us, so we know it will be difficult but we are confident we can go through," he told the club's official website.

"We have had some very good games, and some not so good, but we have quality and if we work together we can get a result. United are very strong, but we are a top side."

United were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League this week by Real Madrid, but Benitez feels Sir Alex Ferguson's side is full of quality players.

"If you analyse the squad they have, they have four strikers and two players in each position that could play for any team. They have a strong squad and even when they make changes they keep the quality," said the Spaniard.

"In attack, they have Chicharito, [Danny] Welbeck, [Wayne] Rooney and [Robin] Van Persie, and they can play any of them.

"If you look at the players they have in wide areas and in the middle, especially if they are winning, in the last 20 minutes they still have players like [Ryan] Giggs and [Paul] Scholes to bring on."

Benitez rested the likes of Ramires, Victor Moses and Ashley Cole as Chelsea fell to a 1-0 Europa League last-16 first-leg defeat to Steaua Bucharest on Thursday, but they are likely to return on Sunday.

"The good thing is that we have another game so soon after a defeat, hopefully we can do better and win, and we will have five or six players with fresh legs," added Benitez.

"It's an important competition which Chelsea have done very well in, so hopefully we can carry on."

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

W

hat's a Bebe??

godsaveourkeane
Bebe seeking Sporting switch

W

hips, harness and saddlery ? This IS an Onion article.

v. profane
Bale set to trademark logo

I

want to trademark the word football .

herculezbotak
Bale set to trademark logo

Footer 365

Transfer news: Andy Carroll passes West Ham medical ahead of Liverpool exit

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has passed his medical with West Ham ahead of his proposed £15million move to Upton Park.

European U21 Championship: Thiago treble secures glory for Spain against Italy

Spain captain Thiago Alcantara hit a hat-trick to help his side secure U21 Euro glory with a 4-2 victory over Italy.

Jermaine Pennant agrees new one-year deal with Stoke City

Jermaine Pennant has put pen to paper on a new one-year contract with Stoke City to end speculation he was to leave.

Mail Box

Twas The Worst Game I Ever Did See...

In this Mailbox it's England v Algeria in 2010 that is seen as the nadir, but there's potential for worse, surely. Plus, one man says we should praise Rooney's honesty...

Why Doesn't Suarez Request A Transfer?

The morning mailbox ponders Luis Suarez's current predicament, cool footballers, the Lion City Cup, Spurs' transfer policy, Kanu's absence and lots more...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved