Rafa Benitez will meet Chelsea’s shell-shocked players today after being appointed interim manager in the wake of Roberto Di Matteo’s brutal dismissal.
Former Chelsea manager, Roberto Di Matteo was sacked yesterday after Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat against Juventus. The axe duly fell at the club’s training ground in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Owner Roman Abramovich wants former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to be Di Matteo’s long-term successor, and has offered to make him the highest-paid manager in the world on £15million a year.
Benitez's short-term appointment could pave the way for owner Roman Abramovich to make a summer approach for ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
Benitez, 52, becomes the Blues' ninth manager since Abramovich took over in 2003.
A Chelsea statement
said: "The owner and the board believe that in Benitez we have a manager with
significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and
immediately help deliver our objectives.
"The two-time Uefa Manager of the Year comes with outstanding pedigree."
Benitez joined Liverpool from Valencia in 2004 and won the Champions League in 2005, as well as reaching the final in 2007, before leaving Anfield by mutual consent in 2010.
He has been out of work since he was sacked by Inter Milan in December 2010 after just six months in charge despite winning two titles - the Club World Cup and Italian Super Cup.
The Spaniard is due to meet the players at the training ground in Cobham on Thursday, before his first match in charge at home to leaders Manchester City on Sunday.
Earlier, when asked if Chelsea had approached him, Benitez told Abu Dhabi-based website Sport 360: "I am looking for a club that can challenge for trophies and Chelsea is one of these clubs."
When he was asked about the prospect of managing on a short-term basis, he added: "I am just trying to go to a team that can win. So we will find ways to have a challenge like this." Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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