Rafael Benitez Wants To Stay At Chelsea Until End Of The Season

Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez has told BBC Sport's Dan Walker he has an "excellent" relationship with owner Roman Abramovich and he will be at the club until the end of the season.

The Spaniard criticised some of the club's fans following a 2-0 FA Cup fifth round win at Middlesbrough.

Benitez also said he will leave in May and described the decision to give him the title "interim manager" as a "massive mistake".

Chelsea face West Brom on Saturday.
The 52-year-old's assertion he will still be at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season will come as a surprise to some observers, who believe Benitez's outburst has increased the pressure on him.

"I don't fancy being him at the weekend," former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I can't see it having any positive effect. I can't understand it. All the fans will have taken it personally."

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

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

As Liverpool manager, Benitez outwitted Mourinho in the 2005 and 2007 Champions League semi-finals and the 2006 FA Cup semi-finals, and directed some criticism towards his current club.

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

He denied those stories, saying: "The players are fully behind our ideas, 100%."

BBC SPORT