Benitez will quit Chelsea after the season is over

Posted on April 4, 2013 by SoccerPunter

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez prefers to manage another English Premier League club next season. He has made up his mind to quit Chelsea when the season is over.

Benitez has done a fairly good job by guiding Chelsea to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

However, Chelsea face a uphill battle with Arsenal to compete for the fourth position in English Premier League. It will ensure their qualification for next season’s Champions League.

He is now preparing Chelsea for the Europa League match against Rubin Kazan, it is also the first time that the two teams meet. Rubin Kazan have yet to lose in an away match for Europa League.

Benitez revealed in February that he will definitely leave the club at the end of the campaign but he says he will only be content if Chelsea fulfil their objectives over the season’s final weeks.

“If we can achieve trophies and finish in the top three, fantastic. Everybody will be happy. That is my aim at the moment,” he said.

On the subject of his own future, the former Liverpool manager added: “I like to win, to challenge for trophies. I would like to stay in a top side. A top side, why not in England?”

Benitez also addressed criticism about his squad management from former Chelsea captain and assistant coach Ray Wilkins.

Wilkins believes Ashley Cole would not have injured his hamstring in the FA Cup victory over Manchester United on Monday had he not been rested by Benitez in Saturday’s league game at Southampton.

Benitez, however, suggested Wilkins’ remarks must have been an April Fool’s Day joke.

“April 1. You cannot take the comment seriously. It was April 1,” he said.

“I have a degree in sports science from Spain. It’s the first time ever I’ve heard something like this. April 1.”