Rafael Benitez wants to stay at Chelsea until end of the season

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Benitez explains 'rant' to Focus

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez says he has an "excellent" relationship with owner Roman Abramovich and will remain at the club until the summer.

The Spaniard criticised some Blues fans following Wednesday's 2-0 FA Cup win at Middlesbrough and also said he would leave in May.

"My relationship with Roman is very good," he told BBC Sport's Dan Walker.

When asked if he would be sacked, Benitez replied: "No. They know how we work and what we are trying to do."

He added: "The players are really happy in what we are trying to do. Sometimes you win, sometimes you cannot.

"The atmosphere in the club is really good. There are no issues in the team. In terms of what we do, the players are fully behind the methods.

"If we stick together and support the players, we will be able to win games. Then at the end of the season I will leave and then they can criticise."

The 52-year-old is contracted to Chelsea until the end of the season but his assertion that he will see out his deal at Stamford Bridge will come as a surprise to some observers, who believe Benitez's post-match outburst on Wednesday has increased the pressure on him.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live following Chelsea's FA Cup win at the Riverside, Benitez said the decision of the club to give him the title of "interim manager" was a "massive mistake" and that the fans were "wasting their time" in protesting against him.

"We still have 11 games to play in the Premier League, and we have the FA Cup and the Europa League," he continued.

"Everyone knows I will finish my contract at the end of the season.

"So this group of fans, who are singing and creating banners, have to concentrate on supporting the team. The rest of the fans, the majority of fans, know the way to help the team is by supporting the players.

"I'm thinking about my team and my club. I want to win every game. I've tried to explain the way is to support the team in every single game.

"We were winning yesterday and still they were singing. I think that will not do our team any favours."

Benitez has been unpopular with some fans since taking over from Champions League-winning manager Roberto Di Matteo in November.

A section of the club's supporters has been unable to forgive Benitez for his association with Liverpool, or forget the rivalry he formed with then Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

As Liverpool manager, Benitez outwitted Mourinho in the 2005 and 2007 Champions League semi-finals as well as the 2006 FA Cup semi-final. He was also critical towards his current club while in charge at Anfield.

Benitez's cause has not been helped by Chelsea's Premier League form.

They are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and in the last 16 of the Europa League, but they have dropped to fourth in the league behind Tottenham, who are managed by former Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Earlier this week, reports emerged from Stamford Bridge that Benitez was involved in a heated exchange with members of his squadexternal-link following their 2-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.

Benitez denied those stories, insisting the players backed him "100%".

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho, currently at Real Madrid, is favourite with the bookmakers to replace Benitez when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Chelsea were pursuing Pep Guardiola but the former Barcelona boss opted to join German giants Bayern Munich ahead of their next Bundesliga campaign.

Watch the full Football Focus interview with Rafael Benitez on BBC One, Saturday, 2 March at 12:15 GMT.

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501 comments

  • Comment posted by U14069690, at 18:21 28 Feb 2013

    Why is it that Chelsea fans hate him so much? Is it because he called some of them disrespectful years ago and do they realise that their current behaviour is only proving him and most of the nation right?

  • Comment posted by brianbutterfield, at 18:23 28 Feb 2013

    I support a lower league team who are in the bottom half of the table and struggling somewhat. I'm not calling for the manager's head. Chelski fans need a dose of realism.

  • Comment posted by wishiwasinliverpool, at 18:31 28 Feb 2013

    1. Chelsea change their managers as often as I change my panties, which is daily. The turnaround of managers is ridiculous.

    2. If Mourinho goes back in the summer he's dafter than he looks. I'll give him 6 months as well 'cos that's all they ever get.

    3. It's not the manager the fans ought to blame it's the owner, clueless boy with toy

  • Comment posted by FortressFratton, at 18:36 28 Feb 2013

    Benitez is spot of with everything he said. Certain groups of fans need to stop focusing on protesting about him and start focusing on supporting the team.

    Don't make banners about Rafa, make them about Chelsea. I don't see why this is being taken as such a surprise, or as an 'amazing rant'.

  • Comment posted by Gordon Soans-Wade, at 18:21 28 Feb 2013

    Not the biggest fan of Benitez but he deserves better treatment from the Chelsea fans. They react like spoilt brats at the best of times, plastic flags and proud of buying their history. If the money pit dries up then they might be glad of any manager that will have them.

  • Comment posted by BeerTalk, at 19:39 28 Feb 2013

    Absolutely hilarious this,
    Chelsea fans too scared to openly criticise the owner, in case he clears off with all his money.
    Its called being caught between the devil and the deep blue see.
    Roman's making all the unpopular decisions, but the product of his decisions, cops for all the abuse.
    Chelsea fans showing a touch of cowardice re Roman.
    Come on you Chelsea pussies. GROW A PAIR. !!!!

  • Comment posted by Crouch end Red, at 18:41 28 Feb 2013

    Benitez comments described as a rant or an outburst. Rather emotive language as Benitez's comments seem perfectly reasonable and sensible to me Its a section of Chelsea's fans. Who are doing the ranting

  • Comment posted by U14354113, at 18:55 28 Feb 2013

    Just heard the interview.

    I totally agree with Benitez. The fans will only have themselves to blame!

  • Comment posted by U15625504, at 19:22 28 Feb 2013

    cant see why the media is portraying this as a crazy rant.....war of words etc.........he was calm and was simply saying the energy of fans booing and chanting against him would be better used if they channeled it into support of the players/team........sounds like a reasonable stance and point of view to me.I know the media are desperate for stories, but its getting ridiculous

  • Comment posted by AstonVillan, at 18:26 28 Feb 2013

    Given the treatment of Benitez and Villas-Boas, who have been stitched up by the owner and never given full backing from the fans or the players, all I can say is that I'm glad Guardiola hasn't gone to Chelsea

  • Comment posted by U15627687, at 19:06 28 Feb 2013

    Chelsea fans showing themselves up here i think!!

    Half of you werent even there before your oil man took over!!

    Get your plastic flags out and support your team!!

  • Comment posted by EjukayshunWurks, at 20:20 28 Feb 2013

    "Rant" is an exaggeration. It's a question asked and a question answered.

  • Comment posted by AstonVillan, at 18:43 28 Feb 2013

    Q: 'Was Benitez doomed from the start at Chelsea?'

    A: Yes, because all their managers are

  • Comment posted by SiviUK, at 20:06 28 Feb 2013

    I grew up as a Chelsea fan when we were qualifying for Uefa Cup spots and getting the odd FA Cup and League Cup. RA came and took us that little bit further and I won't deny that I enjoyed it. I don't like booing and negativity at any home game from any club, when you're there to watch your team you support them plain and simple. I wasn't happy about Rafa's appointment but I refuse to boo my team

  • Comment posted by Stevie, at 18:37 28 Feb 2013

    Chelseas fans are fickle beyond the ridiculous. Very very soon they won't be able to attract ANY manager. The club is fast become a poisoned chalice - They have had the best managers around but player power and a bumbling ineptitude/ lack of trust from the top means no manager has a sturdy, solid foundation to build on. CFC fans should get behind Rafa but instead prefer to castigate him. Stupidity

  • Comment posted by legoboy, at 20:14 28 Feb 2013

    It's a natural progression at Chelsea. It starts with the owner sacking managers left right and centre, but the players wouldn't have that! They didn't want AVB so THEY got him bulleted, now the fans have taken over and got this one the bullet.

    Soon the tea lady will be getting players the sack.

  • Comment posted by ZZ, at 20:02 28 Feb 2013

    No, it should be Chelski supporters - laughing stock of world football. What an unbelievable set of idiots! If you don't want to get behind your club, then you're not a true fan!

  • Comment posted by U15627930, at 18:58 28 Feb 2013

    Chelsea fans forget one big thing about this RB situation...which man has sacked 8 managers even though some have done VERY well, which man sacked RDM after going through a bad spell (like most managers do...AVB at Spurs to mention one) and which man appointed a man who fans will never accept? The MAIN problem at Chelsea now and in the past is one man...Roman Abromovich. Fact.

  • Comment posted by GoFigure, at 19:32 28 Feb 2013

    If Mourinho won't come back exactly who would Chelsea want? More importantly who'll be prepared to do it?

    I'd love for Chelsea to win the Europa League. Two European cup winning managers sacked in successive years. You can't make that sort of stuff up.

  • Comment posted by U15427600, at 18:55 28 Feb 2013

    can't really understand it they hark on about di matteo a bloke who over saw you slump to sixth after hounding out a manger who currently sits above you by 2 points and who were fortunate to win the cl! yep that's progress:)

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