Benitez at the helm at Chelsea ahead of City's visit
Source: Agencies |
November 23, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
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INTERIM manager Rafael Benitez has little time to dust off his Premier League suit and tie and start plotting how to drag Chelsea out of its malaise with leader Manchester City visiting Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Spaniard, who guided Liverpool to European glory in 2005 and another Champions League final two years later before leaving in 2010, was appointed until the end of the season after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked on Wednesday.
Chelsea's new man must quickly solve its defensive problems that has seen 21 goals conceded in 10 games in all competitions.
Chelsea is also without a win in four league games.
Benitez will be reunited with Spain striker Fernando Torres, who he signed for Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in 2007.
Torres has often struggled to live up to his 50 million pounds (US$79.67 million) price tag since moving to the capital last year and was dropped to the bench in the Champions League game against Juventus.
After a bright start, Chelsea has slipped to third and champion City, buoyed by reaching the Premier League summit last weekend, should be ready to take advantage.
Benitez has been without a club for two years after lasting just six months at Inter Milan, and reports said he turned down a short-term deal at Chelsea last season. The received wisdom is that he is now merely keeping the seat warm for Pep Guardiola, the former Barcelona coach who is enjoying a year's sabbatical from the game, but Benitez will not see it that way.
City manager Roberto Mancini believes his side is starting to hit its stride.
"We can do better, but I hope we are starting to find the form of last season - we started to change things a few games ago and it seems to be paying off," Mancini said.
City came from behind to beat 10-man Chelsea in the season curtain raiser, the Community Shield, in August.
With Di Matteo becoming the first managerial casualty of the season in the Premier League, it might not be too long for another to depart.
The London Evening Standard newspaper reported this week that Mark Hughes had refused Queens Park Rangers' request to resign with the club propping up the standings on four points and without a win after 12 games.
Welshman Hughes, in charge at Loftus Road for 10 months, is adamant he can turn QPR's fortunes around but his immediate task will not get easier with a trip to his former club Manchester United tomorrow.
"I don't run away from challenges, and this is a huge challenge," Hughes told reporters.
The Spaniard, who guided Liverpool to European glory in 2005 and another Champions League final two years later before leaving in 2010, was appointed until the end of the season after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked on Wednesday.
Chelsea's new man must quickly solve its defensive problems that has seen 21 goals conceded in 10 games in all competitions.
Chelsea is also without a win in four league games.
Benitez will be reunited with Spain striker Fernando Torres, who he signed for Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in 2007.
Torres has often struggled to live up to his 50 million pounds (US$79.67 million) price tag since moving to the capital last year and was dropped to the bench in the Champions League game against Juventus.
After a bright start, Chelsea has slipped to third and champion City, buoyed by reaching the Premier League summit last weekend, should be ready to take advantage.
Benitez has been without a club for two years after lasting just six months at Inter Milan, and reports said he turned down a short-term deal at Chelsea last season. The received wisdom is that he is now merely keeping the seat warm for Pep Guardiola, the former Barcelona coach who is enjoying a year's sabbatical from the game, but Benitez will not see it that way.
City manager Roberto Mancini believes his side is starting to hit its stride.
"We can do better, but I hope we are starting to find the form of last season - we started to change things a few games ago and it seems to be paying off," Mancini said.
City came from behind to beat 10-man Chelsea in the season curtain raiser, the Community Shield, in August.
With Di Matteo becoming the first managerial casualty of the season in the Premier League, it might not be too long for another to depart.
The London Evening Standard newspaper reported this week that Mark Hughes had refused Queens Park Rangers' request to resign with the club propping up the standings on four points and without a win after 12 games.
Welshman Hughes, in charge at Loftus Road for 10 months, is adamant he can turn QPR's fortunes around but his immediate task will not get easier with a trip to his former club Manchester United tomorrow.
"I don't run away from challenges, and this is a huge challenge," Hughes told reporters.
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