Rafael Benitez can win over Chelsea fans with trophies - Cahill

 

Club World Cup semi-final: Chelsea v Monterrey

  • Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama
  • Date: Thursday, 13 December
  • Kick-off: 10:30 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC HD, Red Button and online. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. Highlights on BBC Two at 13:30 GMT and Red Button from 19:30 GMT.

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez will win over fans through his hard work and by winning trophies, according to Blues centre-half Gary Cahill.

The former Liverpool manager has had a hostile reception since replacing Roberto Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues went out of the Champions League this month and trail Manchester United by 10 points in the league.

Manchester United win 2008 Club World Cup

The history of the Club World Cup

"Everyone wants to win trophies. If that's the case I'm sure he will win people over," Cahill told BBC Sport.

"The only way you can win people over is by working hard and getting results."

Benitez, 52, has had a mixed start to his time at Chelsea as he was jeered by fans before failing to win his first three games in charge.

But two victories in a week - a 6-1 thrashing of Nordsjaelland in the Champions League and a 3-1 victory over Sunderland - have raised spirits within the side.

Speaking in the build-up to his side's Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey, Cahill said the fans' initial response to Benitez's appointment was understandable.

"Robbie [Di Matteo] was fantastic and the club had great period of success under him," he said. "But it's the way football is.

"As players you just have to keep working. You're not in control of other things. You keep your head down and work hard."

Benitez's contract only runs until the end of the season, but Cahill says the uncertainty beyond this season is not affecting the squad.

"It can't affect you," said the England defender, 26. "There's no point us worrying about what happens beyond the end of the season.

Chelsea results under Benitez

  • 0-0 v Manchester City (Premier League)
  • 0-0 v Fulham (Premier League)
  • 1-3 v West Ham (Premier League)
  • 6-1 v Nordsjaelland (Champions League)
  • 3-1 v Sunderland (Premier League)

"There's games to be played. You can't be worried about what's happening at the end of the season. What will be, will be."

The club's immediate objective is the Club World Cup, a competition contested by the winners of Fifa's six confederations plus a host nation team.

Chelsea begin their campaign to lift a trophy Benitez won at Inter Milan in 2010 with a semi-final against Monterrey in Yokohama, Japan on Thursday.

"I think it's a good distraction for us to come here and go into this competition," Cahill added. "It's a fantastic trophy to win and kick on for the second half of the season."

Blues boss Benitez said he did not intend to field a young team against Monterrey, despite worries about picking up injuries to key players.

"No, I intend to win. I'll pick players to win the first game," he said. "You cannot think about the final until you've won the semi-final."

The Chelsea manager also hinted that the club were looking at bringing in reinforcements in January.

With Oriol Romeu facing six months out after knee surgery, the European champions are short of holding midfielders.

The Blues have been linked with Corinthians' Paulinho, Newcastle's Cheick Tiote and Everton's Marouane Fellaini.

Benitez said: "The club is working and always looking for good players, so we'll see if there are any surprises."