Stamford Bridge

Next Game

Chelsea v Man City

Saturday, 25 May 2013, 22:30

Friendly Match

Stamford Bridge

Last Game

Chelsea 3 - 4 Man City

Friday, 24 May 2013, 01:30

Friendly Match

Chelsea: 'It's business as usual'

Rafael Benitez is expected to be given at least one more match in charge at Chelsea despite his outburst.

Last Updated: 01/03/13 at 08:12 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Next Permanent Chelsea Manager After Benitez. Click here to bet.

Rafael Benitez: Interesting comments on Wednesday night

Rafael Benitez: Interesting comments on Wednesday night

Rafael Benitez is expected to be given at least one more match in charge at Chelsea despite his rant criticising Blues supporters and the club's decision to give him the title of interim manager.

Benitez launched an impassioned monologue following the holders' 2-0 FA Cup win at Middlesbrough last night, which set up a quarter-final tie with Manchester United.

His criticism sparked suggestions his tenure in caretaker charge could come to an end as soon as today, rather than as scheduled at the end of season, with the comments unlikely to have gone down well with owner Roman Abramovich and the Blues board.

Chelsea insisted it was just another day at Stamford Bridge, where reports of dressing-room unrest have been played down.

A club spokesperson said: "It's business as usual."

Press Association Sport understands Benitez took training at the club's Cobham base this morning and is likely to be in charge for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with West Brom, where the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge and taunts towards Benitez could be more toxic than usual.

The 'business as usual' statement is reminiscent of comments made by one of Benitez's predecessors, following the departure of Roberto Di Matteo last November, when the Spaniard was placed in charge.

Andre Villas-Boas, now in charge at Tottenham, said: "At Chelsea, I think another sacking is just like any other day at the office."

It seems the addition of 'interim' to his title has irked Benitez since his appointment and he finally erupted following a fourth win in six games - a run which was preceded by just three wins in 10.

In 27 matches, Benitez has 14 wins and a victory percentage of 52 per cent, which - alongside Villas-Boas - is the poorest start of any of the nine managers in the Abramovich era.

The reaction of the former Liverpool boss in confirming his departure at the end of the campaign is likely to heighten speculation over his replacement, with former boss Jose Mourinho - now at Real Madrid - reported to be the top target.

Whoever replaces Benitez will become the 10th manager in 10 years under Abramovich.

Never before has the Russian billionaire had three managers preside over his team in one season, but, should Benitez depart before the end of the campaign and ahead of fulfilling his brief of Champions League football next term, that is what will happen.

With Mourinho and the most likely alternative options under employment, Abramovich could turn to a familiar face in Avram Grant, who was pictured alongside the Russian as a spectator at the recent FA Cup defeat of Brentford.

Israeli Grant guided Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final, but departed after Manchester United won the trophy in Moscow on penalties.

The Champions League was for so long the Holy Grail for Chelsea.

Di Matteo was initially in charge on an interim basis before he guided Chelsea to a maiden title in Europe's most prestigious competition, plus FA Cup victory, and was granted the role on a permanent basis.

When the Italian departed after the holders' Champions League exit at the group stage, attention turned to Pep Guardiola, who was on a season-long sabbatical after leaving Barcelona.

Guardiola has opted for Bayern Munich, though, and attention has returned to Mourinho - the most successful manager in Chelsea's history.

The Portuguese led Chelsea to two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups and one Community Shield, but his time in west London came to an acrimonious end following a series of disagreements with Abramovich.

Chelsea enter the weekend contest with West Brom in fourth place - the final Champions League spot - with a two-point lead over Arsenal and a deficit of two points to third-placed Tottenham.

Defending champions Manchester City are second, seven points better off than the Blues, while Manchester United are on course for the title, with 19 more points than Benitez's team.

Champions League football next term is the over-riding priority - the consequences of missing out could be cataclysmic - and Chelsea's chances of a trophy this term depend on the FA Cup and the Europa League.

Whoever the manager is when Chelsea play at Old Trafford on March 10, Victor Moses is optimistic of success.

He said in the London Evening Standard: "United are probably the toughest team (left in the competition).

"We have quality players here, they have good players, too. If we work together as a team, I can see us really going far and beating United.

"If we can play together as a team, which we have been doing, I don't see anyone stopping us.

"If we can get to the FA Cup final, that will be nice for us. It's not going to be as easy but hopefully we can beat United."


Get £50 from your free £10 bet with Sky Bet if Mata scores first


Well they are hardly going to ask for Abramovich to leave are they, even though its him that fires these managers and reinstates the new ones, go qo ahead and blame Benitez for all your short comings, that's why you have the dumbest fans in the league and why you're called Chavski FC
- ScRipt69

Bet with SkyBet  Next Permanent Chelsea Manager After Benitez. Click here to bet.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

N

ot just Man Strength but Genuine Man Strength . As opposed to all that imposter Man Strength floating around out there.

towelmaster
Rodgers: Coutinho is a star

O

ne of the biggest miss next season would be Mancini's substitutions.. Maybe only Platt understood whats happening...

metal
Profile365's Alternative End Of Season Awards

I

m curious as to what image Real Madrid are trying to re-establish as I always thought their pre-Jose image was one of a bunch of a classless bullies tapping up whoever they wanted while living it large on borrowed money they're never going to pay back.

john matrix
Perez Will Spend Big To Forget Jose...

Footer 365

Transfer news: Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku fancies Borussia Dortmund move

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku says a move to Borussia Dortmund would appeal to him if he is to be loaned out again.

New Toffees deal for Osman

Everton midfielder Leon Osman has expressed his delight after signing a contract extension which will keep him at Goodison Park until 2015.

Transfer news: Manchester City dismiss talk of Sergio Aguero leaving

Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has insisted they have no intention of allowing Sergio Aguero to leave.

Mail Box

More Scared Of Losing AVB Than Bale...

We thought we would have to resort to another mailbox about maths but we've had some grand opinions about Man United, Newcastle, Tottenham and more. Oh and maths...

An Ode To Rafa And Loads More Mails...

We have one Chelsea fan who recognises the job done by Rafa Benitez while there's maths from Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. And Shawcross to Arsenal? Nah...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved