Are you sure Rafa? Interim boss Benitez insists Chelsea are having 'a great season'

1 Apr 2013 22:30

Blues fans have seen their title hopes disappear, they are out of the Champions League and face a nervous race for a top four place

Mind games: Is Rafa trying to convince the fans he's doing well via telepathy?

Paul Thomas

Rafa Benitez risked the wrath of Chelsea fans again by declaring: “We are having a great season.”
Benitez made the claim after Chelsea reached the FA Cup semi final thanks to Demba Ba’s wonder strike and an incredible match winning save by Petr Cech.
It keeps Chelsea on course for two trophies as they are still in the Europa League but fed-up fans have long since seen their title hopes disappear, they are out of the Champions League and face a nervous race for a top four place.
But the Blues boss said: “We’re in the top four with a game in hand. We’re in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the quarter finals of the Europa League. It’s a great season. It could be even better.
“My priority is the top four and trying to win the next game, in the Europa League. This win was very important for everyone here.
“The priority for us is to finish in the top four, we know that, but at a top side you have to win every competition.”
Benitez had been heavily criticised for resting players at Southampton - a defeat which leaves them in danger of missing out on the top four - for the FA Cup.
But Benitez insisted his changes were fully justified. “You have to have balance,” said Benitez. “We only had 48 hours between games and don’t have a strong squad. We had to manage. You cannot kill the players by playing them two games in 48 hours.”
Benitez was full of praise for Ba’s stunning finish and Cech’s incredible save to deny United striker Javier Hernandez an equaliser.

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Chelsea vs Manchester United: FA Cup - Picture Special

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  Benitez added: “We have scored a lot of goals, but this was one of the best, for sure. Really important, very good technique, very difficult.
“Credit to Petr Cech. It was important. When you have a good keeper, it’s healthy. It was a great save and a great goal.”
Chelsea suffered a major injury setback as Ashley Cole limped off with a hamstring problem and will be out for at least two weeks while Gary Cahill has had a setback and will be out for another two weeks.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted his players will come back and seal the title in style after their cup heartbreak.
Ferguson added: “If we play at our best we can beat most teams there is no doubt of that, our history and our record shows that, but when we went 1-0 down we lacked composure.
“We will kick on. It was disappointing today, of course, but we have to forget all about it and move on to the game against City next Monday. We are in a good position obviously and I think a positive result for us on Monday will just about seal the title for us.” ------- Mirror Football