Chelsea beat Middlesbrough with 0:2 in the fifth round of the FA Cup and will face Manchester United in the quarter-finals. However, Benitez confirmed Chelsea exit at the end of the season and criticized fans and club.
Chelsea started with Paulo Ferreira, Yossi Benayoun and Dutch teenager Nathan Ake for the first time this season. Chelsea failed to test Boro keeper Jason Steele in the first half and Middlesbrough took until the 20th minute to settle in the game. However, Ramires scored the Chelsea lead in the 51st minute. Hazard was introduced in the 58th minute and Chelsea started to play better. Moses extended the Chelsea lead in the 73rd minute and secured the victory for Chelsea.
Benitez was once again targeted by Chelsea supporters in the post match interview. He responded in an outspoken rant, confirmed his exit after the season and criticized fans and club. Here are the main points:
- The “interim” title was a “massive mistake”
- He was only given the title so the club could “wash our hands” of him if he failed
- The [Chelsea] put my title ‘interim manager’, and I will leave at the end of the season, so they [fans] don’t need to waste time with me.
- A group of fans, they are not doing any favours for the team when they are signing and wasting time preparing banners.”
- The reason why a group of fans is not happy is because I was Liverpool manager and we played in the Champions League, massive games. That’s it
Chelsea and Abramovich haven’t responded to Benitez’s rant. The club is currently 4th in the Premier League and might fail to qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea will face West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, March 2nd and Benitez can expect a hostile reception from Chelsea supporters.
