Chelsea have unveiled former UEFA Champions League-winning boss Rafa Benitez as its new manager following the surprise sacking of Roberto Di Matteo.
Di Matteo, who guided the Blues to FA Cup and Champions League glory last term, was dismissed after Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Juventus left them on the brink of a first-ever group stage exit for a European champion.
Chelsea must defeat Nordsjaelland in their final group game in a fortnight’s time and hope Juventus lose to Shakhtar Donetsk to progress.
Former Valencia, Liverpool and Inter Milan boss Benitez arrives ahead of that decisive round, on an interim deal until the end of the season, with Chelsea stating they believe he can help them achieve their objectives in a short period of time.
“The owner and the Board believe that in Benitez we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives,” the club said in a statement on its website.
It is known that one of owner Roman Abramovich’s long-term goals was to see Chelsea lift the European title, so for the Italian to be sacked so soon after delivering that trophy comes as a major shock, particularly given the side had begun the 2012-13 Premier League season well before a recent poor run of results.
What the “objectives” are which Benitez has been hired to deliver remain unclear, although getting Chelsea into the Champions League last 16 is clearly a top priority along with getting their Premiership campaign back on track.
“The two-time UEFA Manager of the Year comes with outstanding pedigree,” the Chelsea statement added.
“He began his managerial career in his homeland, most notably at Valencia where he built a reputation as one of Europe’s top coaches by winning the Spanish League twice and the UEFA Cup. He then spent six years at Liverpool and led them to their fifth European Cup and an FA Cup.”
Di Matteo had told reporters after Tuesday’s loss that he expected pressure although it seemed he hadn’t seen the sacking coming.
“At a big club like this, if you have a few bad results you’re going to be under pressure,” he said.
“It’s been the same from day one. We have to live with the pressure and try to pick the players up. We’re in it together; we’ve had a long journey together.”