Rafa Benitez’s criticism of the Chelsea fans has left no doubt – if there ever was any – that the interim manager will be gladly ushered out of Stamford Bridge in the summer.
Despite overcoming a stagnant Middlesborough side to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and a glamour tie with Manchester United, Benitez released his inner thoughts and shifted the artillery onto the fans.
“The fans are not helping us,” bemoaned the beared warrior. They were “wasting their time” protesting against his leadership, he insisted. He indulged in the gravest of football sins – stinging the egos of the common fan. He added on Radio 5 Live:
“They have to support the team instead of wasting time doing banners or singing songs. What they have to do is support the team and create a good atmosphere in Stamford Bridge.”
The reason why managers seldom air their views on fans is simple: emotion. “The fans will have taken it personally,” commented former Blues defender Frank Sinclair on Radio 5 Live. And therein lies the problem. The emotional attachment in the game creates the view that, most of the time, fans are correct.
Any barb aimed at them is likely to attract widespread condemnation. Granted, fans pay their money and therefore can rightfully boo and hiss. However, pushing a man until he cracks does not come across as support. A preconceived picture of Benitez was drawn from his association with Liverpool and success over Jose Mourinho in the Champions League.
There is no issue in lambasting a man as soon as he has walked through the door – as Chelsea fans did in Benitez’s first match, booing his arrival in the dugout. But, when the verbal venom is reversed, it produces a sharp intake of breath and a #rafarant thread on Twitter.
And, that ignores the validity of some of his points. Surely Stamford Bridge regulars can see the value in reducing the hostility towards the Spaniard and focusing on producing the “good atmosphere” he wants?
Roberto Di Matteo had such a thing, and the backing of every Blues fan. The revival he instigated last season undoubtedly played a huge part in this, but so did his past exploits as a player.
Benitez took the interim job in the knowledge that six months in charge would not be enough to convince he was the man to lift the club. Nor would he be covered in his predecessor’s blanket of praise.
It’s fair to say that results have not helped, with Champions League qualification for next season now under threat. Victory in the Captial One Cup semi-final against Swansea may have scaled down the Rafa hatred, but, as remarked earlier in this piece, the jury had reached its verdict before a ball had been kicked.
The fact of the matter is that the relationship was never likely to produce longevity. It has resembled the dictatorial parent (Roman Abramovich), snatching away the children’s favourite toy for what they perceive to be a second hand rip off.
Fortunately for Chelsea fans, they can rest easy in the knowledge that come summer, they will be presented with yet another gift.
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
Well, if RAFA expects the crowd to quiten down and sit like stunned mullets…. They are better off not turning up to watch the shit he is turning out. The arsehole called me and my fellow supporters plastic…. And now wants us to support him… Fuck off back to Liverpool! We don’t want you, we never wanted you…so leave and don’t let the door hit you on the way out! …. We as supporters who pay to enter the stadium have every fuckin right to stand up an say who we want and who we don’t. Maybe its time no Chelsea supporter take their seat for a home game or two! Time to get the message across to Roman and his muppet board….we won’t put up with being treated as mugs! The only ones who would turn up would the NEW bandwagon supporter who won’t be there when Chelsea end up mid table…they weren’t there pre Hoddle era….unlike myself.
Actually why don’t you do the same as I would rather have 20 Raffa’s at the game than one plastic like yourself. In addition can you stop saying “we” and use the term “I” instead because you certainly don’t speak for me nor do you speak for most of the Chelsea supporters I know. I would never have chosen Raffa as a manager at Chelsea but he is here and we should support the team at every match. All the 16 minute muppets have taken this too far now and you and your selfish, arrogant, petulant self destructive behaviour has and will continue to have a negative effect on the team, the players and the club. Get off Raffas back and support the team and lets see if results improve, if they don’t improve then you can all pat yourselves on the back as you would have been proven right and that the job is beyond him. You and your ilk won’t risk that however because if you did and results do as I suspect they will, improve Raffa will be proven right and you will be shown up for just what you really are. If you wish to continue then perhaps you should move to the shed end adjacent to the east stand as I believe your support would fit in better in this location. BTW I have been a Chelsea supporter since 1966 and have been going to the bridge since 1971. Chelsea are and always will be more important than my own petty likes and dislikes, just get over it and get over yourself.