Benitez: I’ll win over Chelsea fans

Rafael Benitez has predicted he will win over Chelsea’s fans during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard, installed as interim manager following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo, is an unpopular figure among the Blues faithful from his time as Liverpool boss.

But he believes he can change that by winning trophies this season.

“At the end of the season they will be really pleased, I’m sure,” Benitez declared.

“We have something in common. The manager and the fans want to win every game. I’m sure the fans will be happy with a manager with a winning mentality and that passion.

“It’s not easy at the beginning but at the end of the day they will be pleased. We are fighting for five trophies.

“Everybody will be happy if we can win games. The fans want to win, the manager wants to win.”

Disparaging comments Benitez made in 2007 about Chelsea and their fans caused particular anger.

He also suggested at that time that he would never accept the job of Blues boss because of his feelings for Liverpool.

Asked about those comments, he said: “We have to analyse the context. We were playing in the semi-final of the Champions League against a top club.

“We can analyse every sentence, it’s not the big issue – the big issue is you are fighting against a top side.

“If I’m a fan, I want to see a manager fighting for my club. I don’t see it as showing a lack of respect, I see it as fighting for my club and I’m sure the fans want to see me defending Chelsea.”

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