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SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 8: Manager Rafa Benitez of Chelsea looks on before the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on December 8, 2012, in Sunderland, England.
Interim Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez believes that Chelsea are still in with a chance to win the English premier League. Their win at the Stadium of Lights last weekend was their first in eight premier league matches, a run that saw them drop from first to third in the table. The ex-Liverpool manager has stated that people saying its’ a ‘two-horse’ race are being ‘pre-mature’ with a majority of season still left:
“People tell me that it’s a two-horse race but, realistically, if you win two or three games in a row then you have more confidence,” Benítez said. “If we win here and play like we did against Monterrey [in the semi-final], good football with the quality we have going forward and the right balance in defence, this team can go on to win games in a row easily. How many? I don’t know. But if you win three or four in a row, confidence will be so high.
“At Valencia we were well behind, eight points down in January or February, but I told the players that they would go on to win the league. The way we trained was key. And, with the way we train here, I’m confident we will be better and better every single week. I haven’t had time to tell the players here the same, but when I talk to the players I can see in their faces they have the belief. They know that what we are doing, the roles and the movements [we're asking them to work on in training], is all working. If, against Aston Villa next week, we can reproduce the same levels we have been, they will start building this confidence.”
Speaking ahead of his team’s club World cup final against Brazilian side Corinthians on Sunday Rafa said:
“We know Corinthians are one of the best teams in South America, so we will have to play at our best level if we are going to win the game. The football we produced in the semi-final against Monterrey was the type the manager has told us he wants to see. But, having come out here, so far, we are only halfway there. Now we have to finish the job.”
