Rafael Benitez has hinted that he will most likely depart Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, when his short-term contract as Chelsea’s coach runs out. In an interviewfollowing the Blues’ 2-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday, the former Liverpool manager indicated that he has given up hopes of landing the job on a permanent basis.
“You know, moreor less, how things go (at Chelsea) in terms of what happens if you lose or win,” Benitez said. “I have a job to do and the players are clever enough and realize they will be here next season withlong contracts. I will be working hard until the end. We have to try to beat Middlesbrough (tonight in the FA Cup 5th Round) and then move on. My job is to concentrate on the next game, notthe speculation.”
When asked where it has gone wrong for him since he replaced Roberto Di Matteo, who was fired in November, he said: “I accept we have had some games wherewe had to do better. At Manchester City (on Sunday), we still had a penalty and two counterattacks when we could have scored and made the difference, but we didn’t play at the level we could play andthat is my concern.” The Spaniard added that there were a few games Chelsea should have won where it gave away winning positions, including the recent clashes against Reading and Newcastle.