Manager Rafael Benitez, current holder of the Chelsea FC Interim-job wasn’t prepared to kiss the backside of the fans who berate him every game last night. In a sensational interview with BBC Radio Five Live following the Blues FA cup tie with Middlesbrough Rafa barely held back his frustration with the fans and the title of Interim Manager he calls ‘a massive mistake’. The whole transcript of his rant/interview can be found here.
It seems that Chelsea have had more managerial fiascos than the Catholic Church has had sex scandals, and once again the club has been plunged back into controversy, this time triggered not from above but from below. Since Rafa’s appointment following the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo many Chelsea fans have been booing him and bringing banners along that say things like ‘RAFA OUT’ and other such creative slogans.
Benitez rightly pointed out that this does little to help a team going through a clear period of transition. These fans are frustrated, they had a club hero in Di Matteo dismissed following a landmark Champions League victory and replaced by the man who managed Liverpool during the time that Chelsea v Liverpool was actually a big game. You can see where they’re coming from.
So whilst the fans triggered Benitez’s rage the real blame lies once again in the upper echelons of Chelsea FC and their frankly ludicrous policy on managers. What on earth was going through their minds when they decided to give Benitez the title of ‘Interim Manager’? For such an experienced manager to be given this title is not only disrespectful, but it gives the impression that the club isn’t making a serious decision on its future. If we’re honest, every Chelsea manager is an interim manager as they rarely last longer than a season anyway.
The fact that this sort of instability within the club is now reaching the fans could leave a team of talented young players and their experienced manager without the support from above or below needed to secure a place in the Champions League next season. Only time will tell how Rafa’s rant will affect Chelsea’s aspirations this season, although it begs the question, will Benitez jump before he is pushed off the same cliff as his predecessors?
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Click to ClaimJack produces topical blogs for Howtobet4free tackling the key issues in the world of sport. Jack also publishes articles for a number of publications each week, and can be found on Twitter by following @JWinterr.
