Really? Chelsea confirm Rafael Benitez as Interim coach

The sacking of Roberto Di Matteo did not please Chelsea fans, and his replacement, all be it on a temporary basis until the summer, will not put a smile on any Chelsea fans either.

The following read is on ChelseaFC.com:

‘Chelsea Football Club can confirm Rafael Benitez has been appointed interim first-team manager until the end of the season.

‘The owner and the Board believe that in Benitez we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives.

‘The 52-year-old Spaniard is due to meet the players at the training ground in Cobham tomorrow.

‘The two-time UEFA Manager of the Year comes with outstanding pedigree. He began his managerial career in his homeland, most notably at Valencia where he built a reputation as one of Europe’s top coaches by winning the Spanish League twice and the UEFA Cup. He then spent six years at Liverpool and led them to their fifth European Cup and an FA Cup.’

Benitez was the bookies second-favourite for about an hour from when the news of Di Matteo broke, opening up at 2/1, from then on the odds got shorter and shorter, and no other name was really mentioned, other than Pep Guardiola who made himself unavailable, and a few mentions of Avram Grant.

Regardless of countless Chelsea fans and supporters groups speaking out against the posibility of Rafa taking the helm, Roman Abramovich went ahead with his choice. As we all know, the man is always right.

Rafael Benitez will be thrown in at the deep-end, with a home fixture against Premier League holders, Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. This will be his first chance to make an impression on Chelsea fans, who are currently livid with his appointment.

One of the main reasons for his appointment must be his previous relationship with Fernando Torres, as he was the last manager to get the best out of the once prolific Ex-Liverpool striker, and with the player being one of Abramovich´s Favourites, the link cannot be ignored.

Well lets all keep our fingers crossed that we get the Rafa of his early liverpool years, and maybe even see some football out of Torres…

1 Comment
  1. io says

    i did not like benitez at liverpool, having him at chelsea is a nightmare;
    BUT WAIT;
    it is an **INTERIM** position only, clearly stated so;
    next, chelsea’s biggest problem is that they can’t defend for toffees;
    benitez is known to set up the teams from a solid back 4!!! benitez can get some structure into chelsea; if he sorts out the defence & the pressing i would be happy;

    in the summer, if pep wants to come to chelsea ** a big ask in my view ** ,
    then we have him, hopefully he takes over a structured team from benitez;

    i think it is a clever move by roman;

    ** i promise you i do not want to see benitez there come july 2013, but for now he is
    the best move, he accepted an interim position if no luck no compensation money and he leaves by default (with FFP this is important)

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