Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard reaches 500-game landmark but his future is uncertain

Frank Lampard marked his 500th Premier League start with the goal that established him as Chelsea’s leading scorer in the top flight, but the midfielder conceded he has no idea whether his 12-season Chelsea career will extend beyond the end of the current campaign.

11:00PM GMT 23 Dec 2012

Lampard struck his side’s fourth, a superbly hit long-range effort, ­minutes before he was substituted midway through the ­second half and the reception that accompanied his walk to the dugout confirmed the status he holds at Stamford Bridge.

It was an emotional moment and, with Chelsea yet to say whether they intend offering a new contract to the 34 year-old whose current deal expires in June, one for the player to savour. Lampard’s goal was his 130th in the top division, eclipsing the mark set by Bobby Tambling and was testimony to his enduring ability.

“It means a lot,” said Lampard, who was captain in the continuing absence of John Terry with a knee injury. “The starts are great, I’ve been very fortunate to play for a great club and the managers and team-mates I’ve had, I’m very proud of that. The goals record, I’m very proud to beat such a great man as Bobby Tambling, who is an absolute legend and a lovely bloke.

“The fans of the club, from the moment I’ve been here having come across London from West Ham, they’ve supported me and that has grown and grown. I love them and appreciate them doing that.”

For how much longer remains uncertain. Rafael Benítez, the interim manager, indicated at one of his first press conferences after his appointment that he understood both Lampard and Ashley Cole would be allowed to leave.

“I’m not concentrating that far as I’m under contract and I love playing here so I’m going to continue game by game, just be pleased to be fit,” Lampard said. “I believe I have a lot in me to go. The club’s position is it’s position, I don’t want to get too deep into that.” Benítez added: “He’s training well, doing well, his commitment is there.”

Benítez believes his side remain contenders for the Premier league title after moving to third, 11 points behind leaders Manchester United.. “You can close the gap if you can see the team improving,” he said. “I’m sure it will be closer. I can see the team improving.”


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9764237/Chelsea-midfielder-Frank-Lampard-reaches-500-game-landmark-but-his-future-is-uncertain.html

Chelsea Set to Offload Senior Trio as Blues Owner Continues Squad Re-Building Process

by The Newshound December 26th, 2012


Stamford Bridge old guard told to leave.

JOHN TERRY will not be offered a new contract by angry Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

The Blues skipper is set to become the latest player to feel the wrath of the Russian billionaire, who has still not forgiven him, Frank Lampard and former star Didier Drogba for failing to back ex-boss Andre Villas-Boas.

The club have also snubbed Lampard by refusing to open contract talks, despite his current deal running out at the end of the season.

Terry’s current contract runs until the end of the next season, and despite the club backing him all the way through his race-row trial and subsequent ban from the FA for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, Starsport understands Abramovich is reluctant to offer him a new deal.

Terry is currently out with a knee injury. England star Ashley Cole, who, in contrast, is not seen as an outspoken figure at the club, has been offered a new 12-month-deal, but at significantly reduced wages.

He has rejected it and talks have broken down, with the England left-back set to join French giants PSG in the summer.

Whilst it is perhaps understandable that centre-back John Terry wouldn’t be offered a new deal, the defender causing more harm than good to the Blues reputation over the past 18 months, the performances put in by Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard surely deserve the pair being offered new long/mid-term contracts.

Whilst it’s good to trust to youth it seems problematic to decide to only offer one year deals to players over 30 years of age across the board. Left-back Cole had perhaps his best season at Stamford Bridge last term and Lampard has displayed a very good level of form in recent weeks.

Clearly Chelsea are planning for the future but there is an argument for mixing youth and experience and clearly, in Lampard’s case, if the player is aware that he would be working in a support role then they would still be happy to remain at the club to fight for a place in the starting eleven.

Former Chelsea boss’s Carlo Ancelotti and Claudio Ranieri are keen on Cole and Lampard respectively at PSG and Monaco. The future for Terry is far less clear.

Rafa Benitez can call upon a number of younger, arguably more able, centre-backs with the likes of Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic both in good form. Brazilian David Luiz has been used in a midfield role of late but is also a solid choice in his usual defensive role.

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/12/26/chelsea-set-to-offload-senior-trio-as-blues-owner-continues-squad-re-building-process/

Frank Lampard ‘distraught’ after Chelsea tell him to find a new club

By Jamie Sanderson Wednesday 26 Dec 2012 11:37 am Football
            

Frank Lampard has been left ‘distraught’ after Chelsea told him this week that his career with the club is over, according to reports.

Lampard, who has played nearly 600 times for the Blues, had been hoping to see out his career at Stamford Bridge but in a bold move, owner Roman Abramovich has told him to find a new club in the January transfer window.

The 34-year-old is currently contracted to Chelsea until the end of the season, and although he had been seeking talks over an extension he will instead be made available for a free transfer in the new year.


According to The Sun, the news has left Lampard ‘distraught’, with a source explaining that it came as a total shock to the England midfielder.

‘Frank is absolutely distraught,’ said the source.

‘He wants to keep playing for Chelsea but they’ve told him to find another club in the January transfer window.

‘He can’t believe it. All he wants to do is play for Chelsea.

‘This club means everything to him.’

It is thought that Lampard will now take time to evaluate his options, but a move to MLS side LA Galaxy is already on the cards despite Manchester United, Arsenal, West Ham and QPR already being rumoured to be interested in his signature.

http://metro.co.uk/2012/12/26/frank-lampard-distraught-after-chelsea-tell-him-to-find-a-new-club-3329627/

Chelsea manager Rafael Benítez to sign Demba Ba from Newcastle United for £7m

Newcastle United striker Demba Ba is on the verge of agreeing a £7 million January move to Chelsea.

11:00PM GMT 30 Dec 2012

It proved a highly satisfying Sunday for interim manager Rafa Benítez as he led the club into third place in the Premier League with a win at Everton before attention turned to the recruitment of the Newcastle striker.

Talks were scheduled between Stamford Bridge officials and Ba’s representatives last night. A clause in Ba’s contract means Alan Pardew is powerless to prevent the 27 year-old’s departure from St James’ Park and it is understood Chelsea are also willing to pay a further £2 million in agents’ fees to get the deal done.

Having agreed the £12 million sale of Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool, Benítez needs more firepower because he saw Fernando Torres toil again despite an encouraging victory at Goodison Park.

Benítez was tight-lipped on the potential new arrival. “We do not talk about our business in public. My job is to prepare the team for games and they will let me know,” he said. “Ba plays for another team so I do not like to talk about it.”

Newcastle United are resigned to losing Ba who is looking for a five-year-contract and wages of around £83,000-a-week, a package Newcastle, who are interested in signing Marseille’s Loic Remy as a replacement, were unwilling to offer.


Ba will then have to pass a medical, which is not a foregone conclusion. Stoke City pulled out of a £5.5 million deal for Ba two years ago as they were concerned about a long-standing knee problem.

But he has not missed a game for Newcastle because of that injury, although it is a condition which needs careful management and may yet be a stumbling block if there are insurance issues.

Ba has been a huge success for Newcastle, scoring 29 goals in 54 league appearances. Privately, however, there will be a certain amount of relief inside St James’ Park if he does leave, even though he has scored more than half of the team’s Premier League goals this season. Many at the club believe speculation over the move has had a detrimental effect on morale.

Ba’s departure will also reignite Pardew’s interest in England international Andy Carroll, although they will wait until his loan deal at West Ham United has ended in the summer to make a bid.

For Chelsea, Ba’s arrival will strengthen their strike force as Benítez still believes he can lead Chelsea to a title challenge. He secured what was arguably the most significant win of his reign so far on Merseyside. It was certainly the most resilient since he took over as Frank Lampard underlined his enduring importance with both goals.

Chelsea have now collected a maximum nine points over the festive period. “We have had some difficult games but especially this one because we were behind and they haven’t lost for a long time,” said Benítez. “It was a great win for us.”

Despite Lampard’s contribution, there appears to be no way back as the midfielder confirmed he is none the wiser about his future.

“He is a great player and a good professional who is doing extremely well,” said Benítez. “We try to get the best from him and at the end of the season who knows? I just want him fit, happy and scoring goals.”

He is under contract, doing well and that is the most important thing.” Lampard, expected to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer at the end of the season, struck in the 42nd and 72nd minute. It was 191st and 192nd goal for the club.

Lampard remained un-committal on what the new year holds. “We’ve not spoken (about a new contract). I just hope it brings for me playing in a winning team,” he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9772105/Chelsea-manager-Rafael-Benitez-to-sign-Demba-Ba-from-Newcastle-United-for-7m.html

Italian job: Lazio ready to offer Frank Lampard a three-year contract on £2m a year

31 Dec 2012 12:13

Despite scoring a brace yesterday, the Blues veteran is expected to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season

Lazio are ready to offer Frank Lampard a three-year contract to finish his career in Serie A.

Reports in Italy claim the Roman club, who are chasing Champions League qualification for next season, are willing to pay the Chelsea midfielder £2m-a-year.

The Blues veteran scored a brace against Everton yesterday but still looks certain to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, despite supporters calling for the club to 'sign him up'.

Lampard has been linked to several clubs including being David Beckham's replacement at LA Galaxy in the MLS.

Despite not being offered a new deal, the England international is not expected to leave until his contract expires at the end of the season.

Interim manager Rafa Benitez has no concerns that Lampard will continue to show his commitment to the club.

He said: "Frank is an important player for us. His quality and experience are something we can use to help the team and we know he will score goals as well.

"For anybody to play a lot of games in the Premier League is not easy. To play 500 is massive, a big feat.

"My job is to bring the best from every player but Frank is a great player and fully committed to the club.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-transfer-news-lazio-ready-1512368

Agent confirms Frank Lampard will definitely leave Chelsea at the end of the season

From correspondents in London, England
AAP January 04, 2013 12:49PM

Frank Lampard will definitely leave Chelsea at the end of the season, the England international's agent confirmed on Thursday, but he will not be tempted to see out his career in China.

The 34-year-old Lampard is into the final months of his contract with the European champions and a new deal has yet to be agreed.

"At the moment, Frank is only thinking of the present. As far as the future is concerned, the only thing that is certain is that his team will change at the end of the season," agent Steve Kutner told Italian website cittaceleste.it.

"Frank wants to play for a great team, fight for important goals and win other trophies.

"A player of his calibre should continue playing at the highest level.

"Serie A could be more than just a possibility," added Kutner, who insisted that a move to China or Russia was not on the agenda.

Los Angeles Galaxy, Chinese Super League side Guizhou Renhe and Premier League strugglers QPR have all been recently linked with a move for Lampard



Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/agent-confirms-frank-lampard-will-definitely-leave-chelsea-at-the-end-of-the-season/story-e6frf4cl-1226547628530#ixzz2Gy5wrsfO

4th January 2013

By David Woods EXCLUSIVE

FRANK LAMPARD has told Chelsea he will take a pay cut of £100,000-a-week to stay at the club.


Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay was informed Lampard would be willing to settle for a new contract worth £50,000-a-week – a massive 66 per cent less than his current deal.

The proposed deal would include extra incentives, based upon his appearances and goals.

But despite the attempt by the desperate England midfielder to save his Chelsea career with a cut-price offer, Blues owner Roman Abramovich still insists he will leave in the summer, when his current deal expires.

Lampard has been told he can quit during this month’s transfer window, but only for a club abroad.

LA Galaxy want Lampard and there is also strong interest from China.

His uncle, QPR boss Harry Redknapp, would love him at Loftus Road now but Chelsea will not allow that this month.

Starsport also revealed how Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to sign the midfielder and team-mate Ashley Cole on free transfers in the summer.

Yet Lampard remains desperate to stay at Stamford Bridge and had hoped his two-goal performance in the 2-1 win at Everton on Sunday would persuade Abramovich to change his mind.

But there has been no new approach to Lampard, who captained Chelsea in the shock 1-0 home defeat by QPR on Wednesday.

He was desperately unlucky to see a goal ruled out for offside that would have seen him go joint second in the club’s all-time scoring charts with Kerry Dixon on 193. He also has Bobby Tambling’s record of 202 in his sights.

But he fears he will be used less and less as the season unfolds if he gets close to Tambing’s mark, as forcing the club’s new record goalscorer to leave would be viewed as a PR disaster for Abramovich and his club.

John Terry 'devastated' by talk of Frank Lampard Chelsea exit, calls for No.8 shirt to be retired

- last updated Fri 4 Jan 2013

John Terry has revealed his devastation at Frank Lampard's possible departure from Chelsea and called for his team-mate's jersey to be retired.

Lampard is out of contract at the end of the season and there has been no sign of the Blues offering him a new deal.

This morning saw club captain Terry post a picture of him and Lampard holding the FA Cup on his Instagram account accompanied by the comment: "Devastated is an understatement. We should retire the number 8 shirt in honour of Lamps. #theheartbeat #hero #legend #hero #goalmachine #friend #ktbffh (keep the blue flag flying high) #cfc #chelsea."

Press Association Sport understands Terry was reacting to quotes attributed to Lampard's agent, Steve Kutner, in the Italian media in which he reportedly said the midfielder would definitely be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.

Kutner has since denied giving any such interview.

However, barring a dramatic U-turn by Chelsea, Lampard will have to find himself a new club next season.


John Terry put the message on his Instagram account. Credit: Instagram
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2013-01-04/john-terry-devastated-by-talk-of-frank-lampard-chelsea-exit-calls-for-no-8-shirt-to-be-retired/

Fergie tables shock Lamps swoop


MANCHESTER UNITED want Frank Lampard and the Chelsea star is ready to move to Old Trafford.

Lampard has been told he is no longer wanted at Stamford Bridge, with his contract set to run out in the summer.

United manager Alex Ferguson is convinced the veteran midfielder, 34, can still do a job at the very highest level.

He is a long-time admirer of the player and tried to get him before he even joined Chelsea.

It is unlikely a deal will be done this month — when a fee would be involved — while Lampard is also keen to see out the rest of the season at Stamford Bridge.

But United are prepared to offer him a one-year deal in the summer, with the promise of a second year if everything goes well.

Contact has already been made from Old Trafford to Lampard’s representatives.

He currently has a number of options including another Premier League club and two abroad.

But United are firm favourites to land him in a deal that would have seemed unthinkable at the start of the season.

-The Sun
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000074566&story_title=Kenya-Fergie-tables-shock-Lamps-swoop-

I know I get all my reliable news from Kenya.

David Beckham's son in Chelsea trial

From: AFP January 24, 2013 11:06AM

DAVID Beckham's eldest son Brooklyn has had a trial with Premier League giants Chelsea.

The 13-year-old reportedly took part in an under-14s match at the European champions' training ground in Surrey.

Former England captain Beckham, who has been without a club since leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of last year, was pictured at Chelsea's training base in a photograph that emerged on Twitter.

Beckham, 37, has previously played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, the LA Galaxy and AC Milan, and won 115 caps for England, which is a national record for an outfield player.

He is yet to make an announcement about the next destination in his footballing career.

Brooklyn is one of four children that Beckham has had with his wife Victoria, the pop star turned fashion designer, along with Romeo, Cruz and Harper.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/david-beckhams-son-in-chelsea-trial/story-e6frg7mf-1226560745373

Chelsea suffer relocation blow after Earls Court plans are quashed

Date: 24th January 2013 at 1:33 pm


Chelsea‘s bid to relocate from Stamford Bridge to Earls Court has been vetoed, according to the Daily Mail.

Owner Roman Abramovich is desperate to move the Champions League winners to a bigger stadium and saw plans to redevelop Battersea Power Station fall apart last year after a Malaysian consortium completed a £400million purchase of the London landmark.

And the Russian billionaire has suffered another setback on Wednesday after Hammersmith and Fulham Council and developer EC Properties released a joint statement slamming his Earls Court proposal.

“Neither of the two landowners believes that the inclusion of a football stadium in the scheme would offer the regeneration benefits of the existing master plan,” the press release read.

“It is the firm intention of the two landowners to proceed with this landmark regeneration, creating 9,500 permanent new jobs and around 36,000 temporary construction jobs.”

Abramovich wants to move the Blues from Stamford Bridge, their home since 1905, to the Earls Court site but Hammersmith and Fulham Council Leader Nicholas Botterill revealed the club were considered when the £1billion renovation scheme was signed off.

“There really is no place for Chelsea Football Club within the Earls Court redevelopment,” he said.

“It remains the council’s firm belief that the future of Chelsea FC is best served at their historic home of Stamford Bridge.”

http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/chelsea/chelsea-suffer-relocation-blow-after-earls-court-plans-are-quashed

Chelsea have £3.5m offer for goalkeeper accepted – report



30/01/2013
by West London Sport

Chelsea have had a bid of around £3.5m for goalkeeper Jack Butland accepted by Birmingham City, according to The Sun.

It is claimed that Chelsea have been given permission to discuss personal terms with the England international.

Liverpool, who were touted as the favourites to sign Butland, 19, have not made an offer.

“Chelsea have been given permission to speak to Jack. At this moment they are the only club who have registered a bid,” said Butland’s agent Gary Mellor.

http://www.westlondonsport.com/features-comment/chelsea-have-3-5m-offer-for-goalkeeper-accepted-report

Lampard offer ruled out
Chelsea

Frank Lampard's agent has dismissed reports suggesting Chelsea have had a change of heart and offered the player a new deal.

Lampard is set to fall out of contract in the summer and looked certain to leave after being told by Blues officials that he will not be offered the chance to extend his 12-year stay.

The midfielder came off the bench to score the winner for England as they defeated Brazil 2-1 in midweek and some reports claimed that Chelsea had finally seen sense and would offer him a new one-year deal.

However, that is not the case according to his agent Steve Kutner, who, when asked about the situation, confirmed: "Nothing has changed regarding Frank's situation at Chelsea."

The 34-year-old midfielder will not be short of offers come the summer if Chelsea stick to their guns and could get the chance to stay in the Premier League with Manchester United known to be keen

http://www.clubcall.com/chelsea/lampard-offer-ruled-out-1543094.html

Frank Lampard closing in on new Chelsea deal

FRANK LAMPARD’S long wait looked set to be over last night, with Chelsea ready to make a U-turn and offer him an extended contract.

By: Tony BanksPublished: Tue, February 19, 2013

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay is expected to sit down for talks with Lampard and his representatives over the “next week or so” to extend his career at Stamford Bridge.

Rumours swirled around last week that a new deal might be in prospect, only to be furiously denied by those close to Lampard, because at that time nothing was on the table. But now the Daily Express understands Lampard has been told that the club are at last ready to open talks on extending his £150,000-a-week deal, which ends in June.

A Chelsea source said: “It is my understanding that Frank has been given an indication that the club are to offer him a new deal, the details of which are yet to be discussed.

“Everyone at the club will be delighted if he stays.”

Everyone at the club will be delighted if he stays

A Chelsea source
The fans once again sang, “Sign him up” before and after Lampard scored a club-record 36th FA Cup goal and his 199th in all for Chelsea – leaving him now just three behind Bobby Tambling’s all-time record.

John Terry, Lampard’s team-mate for the past 12 trophy-filled years at Stamford Bridge, said: “Frank has so much more to give. He is an inspiration to everyone here.

“He is the best trainer at Chelsea by a million miles. I am not even going to entertain the thought of him playing for another club.”

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/378657/Frank-Lampard-closing-in-on-new-Chelsea-deal

I find it funny how Marconi and that Mata guy goes missing a lot and pretty much only seems to be Joffa who frequently posts for Chelsea

EST A Bridge too far

Posted by Miguel Delaney

Rafa Benitez has had anything but an easy ride at ChelseaGiven what happened in the aftermath of Chelsea's FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough, it's rather remarkable to consider the passivity that preceded it.

Indeed, just after Rafa Benitez had given a relatively serene press conference on the eve of the game, a club employee who works quite close to him was asked whether the Spaniard's mood has changed; whether the club and all the controversy was getting to him.

"No, I don't think so at all," the Stamford Bridge official said. "He comes in, does his job as he always does, will talk the hind-legs off anyone as you see. He's been fine."

We now know that hasn't quite been the case.

Clearly, he's been bothered enough to ultimately boil over and deliver the kind of comments that are actually quite untypical of his time at the club so far. In fact, on every single previous occasion that he has been asked about the controversy or the cacophony of abuse he receives, he's always had a single prepared answer: "I do not notice because I am concentrating on the game."

We now also know that hasn't quite been the case. What is most surprising, though, is that it's not like the game he had been concentrating on was particularly testing - either in terms of emotion or opposition. Similarly, the chants will have been nothing new.

That does raise the question of whether something else set him off, which is always possible at this club; and particularly probable given the context of this appointment.

Along the same lines, though, this wasn't quite the 'rant' that was so readily portrayed. After an initial outburst, and despite a few slips of the tongue that indicated someone clearly venting frustration, Benitez did seem quite calm and in control by the end.

The big question now is whether he has also brought a premature end to a reign that was always going to be short.

The Chelsea hierarchy will hardly view this favourably, and certainly not his line to ITV - as opposed to the more general press conference - that "someone decided to put the title interim for me so that means my position from the beginning was weak". Within it, there was also a potential dig at a few high-profile squad members as he said: "I like to manage players and not names."

All that did smack of settling a score, and was quite reminiscent of the rancorous press conference after the 2010 World Club Cup final win which eventually saw him sacked from Inter within five days.
Whether he lasts that long at Chelsea remains to be seen. It is a rather charming coincidence, though, that their next match is against West Brom - the fixture that saw their last two managers get sacked.
To a degree, of course, his reaction is understandable. It's an impossible situation and one in which he has had to suffer a lot of abuse and pressure.

What is also understandable, though, is the fans' ire. For all the talk of spoiled supporters and a supposedly horrible club atmosphere, this was a man who initially questioned their very integrity as fans, even if, as he also pointed out, it was to score an advantage in an intense Champions League semi-final.

And, despite all that, it is also understandable why he took the job. Those close to him say, when debating whether he should accept, he was insistent that a top-four place and possibly a trophy - maybe even an outside shot at the title - would get him back in the managerial circuit and put him in contention for three specifically targeted jobs in the summer: the most obvious being the one at the Bernabeu.

And, to a point, it seemed as if all the parties had just about come to an uneasy alliance to achieve all their goals. While it might not have been smooth, Chelsea did look like they had the capacity to just about surf the waves and stay on course for a top four.

Now, it's all up for grabs again. Not least, potentially, the position of manager. And, in a story with so many questions from the very start, there are a few elements which are much less understandable.

First of all, there's the most pertinent question of all: Why did Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea hierarchy inflict this situation on the club to begin with? It was always a bizarre choice given the history. Many drew parallels with Brian Clough and Leeds United, and it is possible Benitez may have 99 days to go with that infamous 44 at Elland Road.

Secondly, there is the ongoing - if not the initial - unrest of the fans. While they were right to be unhappy with his appointment at the start, there does come a point where you live with it and just see it out, if still not accepting it - particularly when it was so patently clear that this was never going to go past May anyway. They could have coldly ignored him while backing the team. It would have offered the same sense of protest, but without the same potentially damaging effects and constantly angry backdrop.

Finally, though, there's Benitez's timing.

Having done so well, and evidently fought so hard, to keep his true feelings down for so long, he could have continued to maintain that uneasy alliance and just about secured the top four.

Now, if he doesn't immediately lose his job and damage his prospects of the Real Madrid position right now, he has created the kind of controversy that may well destabilise his team for the rest of the season - as well as those chances of the Bernabeu. Ultimately, Benitez needs to see out this season successfully to have a chance of the jobs he most wants.

The flipside, of course, is that there are no more politics, no more face-saving comments. In that, this might bring an odd catharsis to all parties. The entire situation really is that curious.

What is not curious, though, is the one line that captured all the headlines: Benitez has confirmed he is gone in May. It was the one element of this entire story that has never been in doubt.

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/3819?cc=3436

EST A Bridge too far

Posted by Miguel Delaney

Rafa Benitez has had anything but an easy ride at ChelseaGiven what happened in the aftermath of Chelsea's FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough, it's rather remarkable to consider the passivity that preceded it.

Indeed, just after Rafa Benitez had given a relatively serene press conference on the eve of the game, a club employee who works quite close to him was asked whether the Spaniard's mood has changed; whether the club and all the controversy was getting to him.

"No, I don't think so at all," the Stamford Bridge official said. "He comes in, does his job as he always does, will talk the hind-legs off anyone as you see. He's been fine."

We now know that hasn't quite been the case.

Clearly, he's been bothered enough to ultimately boil over and deliver the kind of comments that are actually quite untypical of his time at the club so far. In fact, on every single previous occasion that he has been asked about the controversy or the cacophony of abuse he receives, he's always had a single prepared answer: "I do not notice because I am concentrating on the game."

We now also know that hasn't quite been the case. What is most surprising, though, is that it's not like the game he had been concentrating on was particularly testing - either in terms of emotion or opposition. Similarly, the chants will have been nothing new.

That does raise the question of whether something else set him off, which is always possible at this club; and particularly probable given the context of this appointment.

Along the same lines, though, this wasn't quite the 'rant' that was so readily portrayed. After an initial outburst, and despite a few slips of the tongue that indicated someone clearly venting frustration, Benitez did seem quite calm and in control by the end.

The big question now is whether he has also brought a premature end to a reign that was always going to be short.

The Chelsea hierarchy will hardly view this favourably, and certainly not his line to ITV - as opposed to the more general press conference - that "someone decided to put the title interim for me so that means my position from the beginning was weak". Within it, there was also a potential dig at a few high-profile squad members as he said: "I like to manage players and not names."

All that did smack of settling a score, and was quite reminiscent of the rancorous press conference after the 2010 World Club Cup final win which eventually saw him sacked from Inter within five days.
Whether he lasts that long at Chelsea remains to be seen. It is a rather charming coincidence, though, that their next match is against West Brom - the fixture that saw their last two managers get sacked.
To a degree, of course, his reaction is understandable. It's an impossible situation and one in which he has had to suffer a lot of abuse and pressure.

What is also understandable, though, is the fans' ire. For all the talk of spoiled supporters and a supposedly horrible club atmosphere, this was a man who initially questioned their very integrity as fans, even if, as he also pointed out, it was to score an advantage in an intense Champions League semi-final.

And, despite all that, it is also understandable why he took the job. Those close to him say, when debating whether he should accept, he was insistent that a top-four place and possibly a trophy - maybe even an outside shot at the title - would get him back in the managerial circuit and put him in contention for three specifically targeted jobs in the summer: the most obvious being the one at the Bernabeu.

And, to a point, it seemed as if all the parties had just about come to an uneasy alliance to achieve all their goals. While it might not have been smooth, Chelsea did look like they had the capacity to just about surf the waves and stay on course for a top four.

Now, it's all up for grabs again. Not least, potentially, the position of manager. And, in a story with so many questions from the very start, there are a few elements which are much less understandable.

First of all, there's the most pertinent question of all: Why did Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea hierarchy inflict this situation on the club to begin with? It was always a bizarre choice given the history. Many drew parallels with Brian Clough and Leeds United, and it is possible Benitez may have 99 days to go with that infamous 44 at Elland Road.

Secondly, there is the ongoing - if not the initial - unrest of the fans. While they were right to be unhappy with his appointment at the start, there does come a point where you live with it and just see it out, if still not accepting it - particularly when it was so patently clear that this was never going to go past May anyway. They could have coldly ignored him while backing the team. It would have offered the same sense of protest, but without the same potentially damaging effects and constantly angry backdrop.

Finally, though, there's Benitez's timing.

Having done so well, and evidently fought so hard, to keep his true feelings down for so long, he could have continued to maintain that uneasy alliance and just about secured the top four.

Now, if he doesn't immediately lose his job and damage his prospects of the Real Madrid position right now, he has created the kind of controversy that may well destabilise his team for the rest of the season - as well as those chances of the Bernabeu. Ultimately, Benitez needs to see out this season successfully to have a chance of the jobs he most wants.

The flipside, of course, is that there are no more politics, no more face-saving comments. In that, this might bring an odd catharsis to all parties. The entire situation really is that curious.

What is not curious, though, is the one line that captured all the headlines: Benitez has confirmed he is gone in May. It was the one element of this entire story that has never been in doubt.

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