The new Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has said that he feels that the Chelsea fans will understand that he is just a professional who was trying to protect his team when he was at Liverpool. The former Liverpool manager recently took over an interim job till the end of the season at Chelsea.
He replaces the manager Roberto di Matteo, who won the Champions League title only a few months ago. Due to the numerous comments he made about Chelsea and its fans when he was a Liverpool manager, the Chelsea fans have been extremely vocal in expressing their displeasure to this appointment.
The Spaniard, though, have said that he was just protecting the team just as he would do to Chelsea now. Benitez had his first match as the Chelsea manager in the 0-0 draw with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. He faced a hostile reception from his own fans, which is something that football has never seen before. There were a lot of chants calling for his exit from the club. There are also numerous banners and flags in protest of the Spaniard. However, Benitez has revealed after the match that he is keen on changing the perception fans have about him.
"Some of the fans will realise it’s not the way to support their team and some will know they have a professional manager in charge. If we win games it will change perception and I have the confidence we will win a lot of games. I was asking people “what are they singing?” but I don’t care. I was just focused on the game and doing my best. How many people does it take to write a banner? Just one or two," said Benitez after the match. Chelsea will be playing against Fulham in the London Derby on Thursday night.