Rafael Benítez has told Roman Abramovich that the Chelsea squad he inherited from Roberto Di Matteo is neither fit enough nor strong enough.
Chelsea have earmarked Metalist Kharkiv’s Brazilian attacker Taison as a January signing while Benítez has been working on the players’ fitness, sending Fernando Torres for extra sessions in the gym.Benítez attended a board meeting on Thursday with Abramovich and Michael Emenalo, the technical director, in which the interim first-team manager outlined his initial impressions of the squad after two stalemates and six training sessions. “You can see the team needs to improve a bit physically,’’ said Benítez. “We had yesterday a board meeting and I explained what I’d seen.’’
He believes he can win over the hostile fans. “When I was at Extremadura, I replaced a manager who was very successful and at the end they loved me. I went to Tenerife and had a very good relationship with the fans. Valencia was the same. Liverpool was the same. So hopefully with the success I can do the same here.”
The Spaniard, who on Saturday travels to West Ham to face an old rival in Sam Allardyce, argued that Chelsea were moving in the right direction under him. “The players have a bit more confidence now than before because they were conceding goals every single game and losing. The players can see the team is more solid, and that’s the first step.’’ If he has tightened the defence, Benítez needs to get the attack rolling.
The Premier League hopes to celebrate its 21,000th goal this weekend, needing 27 to hit the mark, but Benítez and Torres have to prove they can find the key to the door to goal. Benítez teams have not scored in the Premier League for six hours (two games with Chelsea this week, and his final two games with Liverpool in 2010).
Torres has not scored in 275 minutes under Benítez in the Premier League, not since March 28, 2010 against Sunderland, the first of his two goals that day highlighting the need to get the ball to him quickly. Liverpool’s keeper, Pepe Reina, found Torres on the left with a long throw, and the striker brilliantly turned Michael Turner before beating Craig Gordon with a superb strike into the top corner.
Torres needs constant encouragement by his manager. “I was always talking to him,’’ said Benítez of their time at Anfield. “I like doing that with players, asking them questions, about players, games, families. It can be a two-minute conversation with someone walking to the pitch, or you can have breakfast with them.’’
Benítez dismissed the idea of former Olympic sprinter Darren Campbell working with Torres as he has in the past. “It’s different just running and running with the ball on the pitch.”
During Thursday’s meeting, Benítez, Abramovich and Emenalo discussed the possibility of recalling Romelu Lukaku from West Bromwich Albion. “We know he’s doing well,’’ said Benítez. “But maybe it’s better for his development to stay there, playing.” Until January and Taison’s possible arrival, Torres faces 10 games. He cannot be rested. “Not at the moment because [Daniel] Sturridge is injured,’’ said Benítez.
“[Victor] Moses is the only option we’d have, but he’s a different kind of player.’’
Benitez, who despite Chelsea’s lack of goals was considering leaving out Oscar from Saturday's game, said he did not see Eden Hazard as a centre-forward, a role the Belgian filled unsuccessfully against Juventus. “I know he played in that position, but he’s not a striker. He’s a No 10 or a winger. Hazard was one of the players I wanted to sign at Liverpool at 19. He was too expensive.’’
Benítez also considered recruiting Andy Carroll, who eventually joined Liverpool for £35 million and is now on loan at West Ham. “He played the Youth Cup at Anfield and we were watching him, a young player with power,’’ recalled Benítez. “It was an option, he was cheaper. Take the ‘3’ off the £35 million.”
In chatty mood at Cobham on Friday, Benítez touched on a range of other matters. He praised Marko Marin, saying: “You can see his quality.’’ Of David Beckham possibly returning to England, Benítez said: “I’m not sure whether he can cope now with the pace of the Premier League.” He explained why he made the crossing hands “game over” gesture after Liverpool’s second goal in a 4-0 win over Allardyce’s Blackburn in 2009, a gesture of “absolute contempt” according to Sir Alex Ferguson at the time. “How could I have said the game was over after 20 minutes?’’ said Benítez yesterday. “Crazy.’’
John Terry has told the club’s medical staff that he feels ready to play but Benítez remains cautious, citing concerns over the knee injury, and doubted whether the centre-half would make the under-21s’ game on Monday. Benítez observed that the team missed the “character and leadership” of Terry and Frank Lampard.
Benitez’s life is all tinker, tailor at the moment. “I have some problems with the official suit. The Italian style is different. It’s really nice, but it’s a style for young people, not old people. Now, because of the [economic] crisis, no one has many suits in stock. They have to make the right one.’’
What would suit Chelsea on Saturday is a goal. Benítez is known for rarely celebrating goals. “Sometimes when you score it’s the time to talk to players. Some managers like to jump around and roar. The fans sometimes enjoy this. I’m happy inside.”
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| Benítez also considered recruiting Andy Carroll. |
The Spaniard, who on Saturday travels to West Ham to face an old rival in Sam Allardyce, argued that Chelsea were moving in the right direction under him. “The players have a bit more confidence now than before because they were conceding goals every single game and losing. The players can see the team is more solid, and that’s the first step.’’ If he has tightened the defence, Benítez needs to get the attack rolling.
The Premier League hopes to celebrate its 21,000th goal this weekend, needing 27 to hit the mark, but Benítez and Torres have to prove they can find the key to the door to goal. Benítez teams have not scored in the Premier League for six hours (two games with Chelsea this week, and his final two games with Liverpool in 2010).
Torres has not scored in 275 minutes under Benítez in the Premier League, not since March 28, 2010 against Sunderland, the first of his two goals that day highlighting the need to get the ball to him quickly. Liverpool’s keeper, Pepe Reina, found Torres on the left with a long throw, and the striker brilliantly turned Michael Turner before beating Craig Gordon with a superb strike into the top corner.
Benítez dismissed the idea of former Olympic sprinter Darren Campbell working with Torres as he has in the past. “It’s different just running and running with the ball on the pitch.”
During Thursday’s meeting, Benítez, Abramovich and Emenalo discussed the possibility of recalling Romelu Lukaku from West Bromwich Albion. “We know he’s doing well,’’ said Benítez. “But maybe it’s better for his development to stay there, playing.” Until January and Taison’s possible arrival, Torres faces 10 games. He cannot be rested. “Not at the moment because [Daniel] Sturridge is injured,’’ said Benítez.
“[Victor] Moses is the only option we’d have, but he’s a different kind of player.’’
Benitez, who despite Chelsea’s lack of goals was considering leaving out Oscar from Saturday's game, said he did not see Eden Hazard as a centre-forward, a role the Belgian filled unsuccessfully against Juventus. “I know he played in that position, but he’s not a striker. He’s a No 10 or a winger. Hazard was one of the players I wanted to sign at Liverpool at 19. He was too expensive.’’
Benítez also considered recruiting Andy Carroll, who eventually joined Liverpool for £35 million and is now on loan at West Ham. “He played the Youth Cup at Anfield and we were watching him, a young player with power,’’ recalled Benítez. “It was an option, he was cheaper. Take the ‘3’ off the £35 million.”
In chatty mood at Cobham on Friday, Benítez touched on a range of other matters. He praised Marko Marin, saying: “You can see his quality.’’ Of David Beckham possibly returning to England, Benítez said: “I’m not sure whether he can cope now with the pace of the Premier League.” He explained why he made the crossing hands “game over” gesture after Liverpool’s second goal in a 4-0 win over Allardyce’s Blackburn in 2009, a gesture of “absolute contempt” according to Sir Alex Ferguson at the time. “How could I have said the game was over after 20 minutes?’’ said Benítez yesterday. “Crazy.’’
John Terry has told the club’s medical staff that he feels ready to play but Benítez remains cautious, citing concerns over the knee injury, and doubted whether the centre-half would make the under-21s’ game on Monday. Benítez observed that the team missed the “character and leadership” of Terry and Frank Lampard.
Benitez’s life is all tinker, tailor at the moment. “I have some problems with the official suit. The Italian style is different. It’s really nice, but it’s a style for young people, not old people. Now, because of the [economic] crisis, no one has many suits in stock. They have to make the right one.’’
What would suit Chelsea on Saturday is a goal. Benítez is known for rarely celebrating goals. “Sometimes when you score it’s the time to talk to players. Some managers like to jump around and roar. The fans sometimes enjoy this. I’m happy inside.”
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