Benitez 'leaving this summer'

Rafael Benitez has turned on Chelsea supporters and confirmed he will not be at the club beyond this season.

Last Updated: 28/02/13 at 06:41 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League. Click here to bet.

Rafael Benitez: Hit out at the Chelsea fans

Rafael Benitez: Hit out at the Chelsea fans

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The interim manager, who was once again targeted by a section of his own club's support during Wednesday night's 2-0 FA Cup fifth round victory at Middlesbrough, was in defiant mood after the game.

He said: "I have been in charge in football for 26 years. I have won the Champions League, won the FIFA Club World Cup, the FA Cup, the Italian Super Cup, the Spanish league twice, nine trophies, all the trophies you can win at club level.

"A group of fans, they are not doing any favours for the team when they are singing and wasting time preparing banners.

"It's because someone made a mistake. They put my title (as) 'interim manager', and I will leave at the end of the season, so they don't need to waste time with me.

"They have to concentrate on supporting the team, that's what they have to do.

"In the end, they are not doing any favours to the club, to the rest of the fans and to the players.

"Every game they continue singing and they continue preparing banners, they are wasting time. What they have to do is support the team.

"If we cannot achieve what we expect to achieve, that is to be in the top four and be in the Champions League for next year, I will leave; they will stay in the Europa League."

Benitez continued: "I am really pleased here. I have a very good group of players who are working very hard. It's a top club, so it's not a problem.

"The problem is a group of people who think they can say what they want instead of supporting the team.

"They have to support the team, they have to support the players and don't waste any other things because they don't need to be worried about me.

"I will leave at the end of the season, so why do they have to be worried?

"I will do my job, I will try to win every game until the last minute, that's it."

Benitez's astonishing outburst came barely 24 hours after he moved to play down reports of a training ground bust-up with skipper John Terry.

In a move which is unlikely to go down well with owner Roman Abramovich, he accused the club of undermining him by giving him his "interim" title when he replaced Roberto Di Matteo, the man who brought the Champions League trophy back to Stamford Bridge last season, in November.

Asked if he had known that would be the case when he accepted the job, Benitez said: "Everybody is interim because after you, there is another one. But in this case, they didn't have anyone, so why put 'interim'?

"It's just to say to everyone, 'Because he was in Liverpool and just in case, we will put interim and then we will wash our hands'.

"Why do you need to do that? The manager is the manager - one month, three months, seven months, he's the manager.

"The reason why a group of fans is not happy is because I was Liverpool manager and we played in the Champions League, massive games. That's it.

"But you can't change that. They were really good, we were really good, it was a confrontation at that stage.

"I am the manager, I am professional and I want to clarify: I will do my best until the last minute, but if they carry on with this agenda, they are damaging the club, they are damaging the team and next year, if we cannot achieve the top four, they have to take a little bit of responsibility."

Asked further if he believed giving him the interim title was a mistake from the start, he replied: "Yes, 100%."

Benitez's tirade completely overshadowed the game, which his much-changed side, led by Terry, eventually won after a difficult first half.

It took them 51 minutes to force their way in front when Yossi Benayoun recycled Oscar's cross to Ramires and he curled the ball towards the top corner.

His shot flicked Fernando Torres on its way to goal and both men appeared to claim the goal, although few in blue would have been unduly concerned as to the name which eventually went on to the scoresheet.

The visitors made sure of victory 15 minutes from time when substitute Eden Hazard laid a second on a plate for Victor Moses, who capped an impressive individual display by tapping home.

However, Boro have as good as they got for long periods and while their FA Cup dream may be over, manager Tony Mowbray was hoping to take some of the positives into the remainder of their Championship campaign, which continues against leaders Cardiff at the weekend.

Mowbray said: "We have got 12 games left now. For six months of this season, we have been in the top six and we have been threatening the top two for most of that time.

"We have obviously fallen off the pace in the last six weeks, for whatever reason, be that injury or the fact we have been involved in cup competitions.

"But we have to get back to business now. We have to start winning football matches again now and our only concern this year is to try to get out of this league."

The fans want mourinho. I hope whoever is even remotely considered next in line, whether Pellegrini or whoever, I hope they don't have to go through this. Let Terry just be the captain/manager which will save all of us time. This happens on the back of a victory in the FA Cup. Hilarious.
- cferns

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