Chelsea back Benitez despite furious rant

Chelsea insisted Thursday was just another normal day at Stamford Bridge after Rafael Benitez's rant at the Blues support and his title of interim manager.

Benitez launched an impassioned monologue following the holders' 2-0 FA Cup win at Middlesbrough on Wednesday night, which set up a quarter-final tie with Manchester United.

His criticism sparked suggestions his tenure in caretaker charge could come to an end as soon as Thursday, rather than as scheduled at the end of season.

A Chelsea spokesperson said: "It's business as usual."

Press Association Sport understands Benitez was set to take training at the club's Cobham base on Thursday morning and, at this stage, expected to be in charge for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with West Brom.

The Spaniard had previously confirmed that he would be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the season regardless of how the campaign ends.

In addition, he blasted the decision to give him the title of "interim manager" and laid into the a section of fans who once again targeted him at the Riverside Stadium.

Benitez said: "I am really pleased here. I have a very good group of players who are working very hard. It's a top club, so it's not a problem.

"The problem is a group of people who think they can say what they want instead of supporting the team.

"They have to support the team, they have to support the players and don't waste any other things because they don't need to be worried about me.

"I will leave at the end of the season, so why do they have to be worried?

"I will do my job, I will try to win every game until the last minute, that's it."

Benitez's astonishing outburst came barely 24 hours after he moved to play down reports of a training ground bust-up with skipper John Terry.

In a move which is unlikely to go down well with owner Roman Abramovich, he accused the club of undermining him by giving him his "interim" title when he replaced Roberto Di Matteo, the man who brought the Champions League trophy back to Stamford Bridge last season, in November.

Asked if he had known that would be the case when he accepted the job, Benitez said: "Everybody is interim because after you, there is another one. But in this case, they didn't have anyone, so why put 'interim'?

"It's just to say to everyone, 'Because he was in Liverpool and just in case, we will put interim and then we will wash our hands'.

"Why do you need to do that? The manager is the manager - one month, three months, seven months, he's the manager.

"The reason why a group of fans is not happy is because I was Liverpool manager and we played in the Champions League, massive games. That's it.

"But you can't change that. They were really good, we were really good, it was a confrontation at that stage.

"I am the manager, I am professional and I want to clarify: I will do my best until the last minute, but if they carry on with this agenda, they are damaging the club, they are damaging the team and next year, if we cannot achieve the top four, they have to take a little bit of responsibility."

Asked further if he believed giving him the interim title was a mistake from the start, he replied: "Yes, 100%."

Benitez's tirade completely overshadowed the game, which his much-changed side, led by Terry, eventually won after a difficult first half.

It took them 51 minutes to force their way in front when Yossi Benayoun recycled Oscar's cross to Ramires and he curled the ball towards the top corner.

His shot flicked Fernando Torres on its way to goal and both men appeared to claim the goal, although few in blue would have been unduly concerned as to the name which eventually went on to the scoresheet.

The visitors made sure of victory 15 minutes from time when substitute Eden Hazard laid a second on a plate for Victor Moses, who capped an impressive individual display by tapping home.

However, Boro have as good as they got for long periods and while their FA Cup dream may be over, manager Tony Mowbray was hoping to take some of the positives into the remainder of their npower Championship campaign, which continues against leaders Cardiff at the weekend.

Mowbray said: "We have got 12 games left now. For six months of this season, we have been in the top six and we have been threatening the top two for most of that time.

"We have obviously fallen off the pace in the last six weeks, for whatever reason, be that injury or the fact we have been involved in cup competitions.

"But we have to get back to business now. We have to start winning football matches again now and our only concern this year is to try to get out of this league."

Source: Fox Sport