Rafael Benitez was appointed as Chelsea's new manager yesterday under controversial circumstances.
The former Liverpool boss was named as the new first-team coach just hours after Roberto Di Matteo was dismissed from his role following nine months in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard has not been warmly welcomed by a large number of supporters and one fan appeared at the entrance of the Blues' Cobham training ground with a 'Benitez out' banner.
Benitez will take his first press conference at around 5.30pm and you can follow all the updates below.
Benitez will now turn his attention to first-team duties and Sunday's game against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Of course, you can follow live text coverage of that match from 3pm here at Sports Mole. Anyway, that's enough from me for now. Goodnight!
The Spaniard was very relaxed during all of that and appears to be excited about his return to the Premier League. He was keen to avoid the subject of Fernando Torres, instead talking about the squad as a whole. Benitez made it clear that he is at the club to win trophies as well.
And with that Rafa Benitez is escorted out of the press room to end his first press conference as Chelsea manager.
Concerned about damaging relationship with Liverpool fans? "I had a challenge to manage a top side. Chelsea is a good club, a top side, and I can guarantee you that Liverpool fans have wished me all the best."
On Abramovich: "He likes to see his team play football but he's not involved every day."
Referring to experience at Liverpool: "Here you don't have two owners on top of each other. You have a owner and a director."
"I love the Premier League. I'm really pleased because I think it's a challenge for me."
Benitez, who is extremely relaxed amongst the mass of flashbulbs, jokes that even Pep Guardiola can't win the Premier League from Spain.
"The Premier League would be a massive trophy to win, as I know how difficult it is to win."
Is the Premier League title the main priority? "All the trophies are important, but some are more important than others."
"Roberto Di Matteo was doing a great job. Sometimes in football you change managers too soon, but that's life."
"I was waiting for the right offer in the Premier League. Is the squad good enough? Yes. Can we win trophies? Yes."
On Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard signing new contracts: "My experience with these players is that they're good professionals. I don't see a problem."
"Winning the league with Valencia after 31 years wasn't bad."
On possible tactical changes: "I don't think there's one way to play. I think the way you manage depends on the team."
What makes you think that you can hit the ground running? "I've been analysing the game, analysing players. My passion for the game is there. I have more desire to win trophies now than before."
On Sunday's match against Man City: "I will try to win the game. As a manager you have to be honest, try to do your best and win every game."
Rather oddly, Benitez reveals that he hasn't yet met owner Roman Abramovich. "My agent was doing his job," says the Spaniard.
Terry to remain captain? "We'll see in the next game. He's one guy that's helping the other players and is committed to the club."
Paco Miquel and Xavi Valero, who previously worked with Benitez at Liverpool, will also be joining him at Stamford Bridge.
Benitez confirms that former Liverpool and Chelsea defender Bolo Zenden will be a part of his backroom staff: "Bolo knows the environment here."
Any changes to coaching staff? "I won't change too much. I know they have some good coaches."
"I've seen a group of players who are very professional."
"Everybody will be happy if we can win some games in a row and maybe some trophies in the future."
"He's one of the important players of this team and I'd like to improve him as I'd like to improve the others."
On Torres (again): "Today I saw a lot of players with great attitude. Fernando was one of them but there was also Oscar, Mata etc."
Did you say you would never take the Chelsea job? "We can analyse everything I've said but I don't think that's the big issue."
"I wanted to stay in Europe, I wanted to stay in the Premier League so I'm happy to be back in the Premier League."
"Chelsea haven't promised me anything. They said 'we trust you.'"
On working with Torres: "Everybody wants to be talking about Fernando but I want to talk about all the players. He and the others were training really well today."
On transfers: "It's not unusual like it is here to have a manager here who is more like a head coach but my main priority is to work with the players I've got and try to improve them."
"To be fair I'm not sure about what you can read. I haven't been told that 'you have to do this, you have to do that'. I have a lot of years at experience at this level."
Speaking about Guardiola: "I have a good relationship with Guardiola and in football you never know. Two years I was waiting for the right opportunity and I have this now so I had to take it."
"Today they were explaining to me what they expect and what they want. At a club like this you want to win games and you want to win trophies."
In reference to the Clattenburg case: "The club put out a statement and I want to focus on football."
"I don't care about the long term. In football you never know. In seven months if you can win some trophies people will be delighted."
Benitez: "I'm here because I want to be here. It's a massive club which allows me to fight for trophies. I've been looking for the right opportunity and when you have a chance like this you have to take it."
Right, Benitez is at Stamford Bridge, ready to address the media! He's just taken a few photos with the Chelsea shirt.
That has not been the case at the Bridge but could Torres's form reappear with the help of his former boss? I'm sure Abramovich will be hoping so.
Benitez's departure from Anfield eventually spelled the end for Torres on Merseyside and he moved to Chelsea with Abramovich's hopes that he could recreate the scintillating form that he displayed in his first few years with the Reds.
If you can cast your minds back to 2007, Torres was introduced to the Premier League at Liverpool by then manager Benitez, who helped mould the forward into becoming one of the most prolific strikers in the league at that time.
There were rumours that Torres that was facing an exit in January, with Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao being touted as a replacement. However, is that all up in the air now that Benitez has arrived?
Speaking of players, Fernando Torres has been at the forefront of people's minds when Benitez was appointed as manager. It's no secret that the Spain international has been struggling to find form at the Bridge, which has somewhat lowered the value of the £50m Abramovich spent on him when he bought the forward from Liverpool last year.
There has been no sign of the new Chelsea man as yet! The original time was 5.30pm but when do these conferences ever start on time anyway? Apparently, he only left the Cobham training ground a short while ago. He must have been getting to know his players.
But I doubt that this spells the end of speculation regarding Chelsea and Guardiola. Could the Spaniard replace Benitez at the end of the season? Or will Benitez impress so much that he keeps his job? I'm sure the former Liverpool boss will be hoping for the latter. One thing's for sure, though, when it comes to Abramovich, nothing's predictable.
Former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. Reports have stated that the successful manager was approached by Abramovich but the young boss has decided to commit to his year's sabbatical in New York with his family.
So, a lot is being asked about the length of Benitez's contract. The club have claimed that the Spaniard will take Chelsea to the end of the season, which suggests that Abramovich has a permanent Di Matteo successor in mind...
As mentioned earlier, some fans are not happy at the arrival of Benitez. And a quote taken from the Spaniard during his time at Liverpool could be part of the reason why. Benitez was once quoted as saying: "We do not need to give away flags for our fans to wave. Our supporters are always there with their hearts and that is all we need. It's the passion of the fans that helps to win matches - not flags."
Benitez arrived in London this afternoon and was hounded by cameras and reporters but Sky Sports News managed to get a few words out of him: "Chelsea are a top side and I want to challenge for trophies. We'll think about one game at a time and try to win the next game. The fans always want the manager to win games, so we'll try to do this."
Well, quite a few days for the West London outfit...
Clattenburg was alleged to have called Mikel a "monkey" after booking him during the Premier League clash but following an investigation by the FA, the governing body have decided that the match official does not have a case to answer.
Not only will Benitez be questioned on his controversial move, the Spaniard will also be forced to deal with the news that midfielder John Obi Mikel has been charged with misconduct by the FA following the race row with referee Mark Clattenburg during the Blues' 3-2 defeat to Manchester United last month.
Plenty were shocked that Di Matteo was dismissed after leading the Blues to FA Cup and Champions League glory and the former West Bromwich Albion boss was the eighth manager to be dismissed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Usually, the unveiling of a new manager is relatively simple, with questions of targets and their reasons for choosing the club in question. However, Benitez is likely to face a hoard of uncomfortable questions considering the manner of his appointment.
As we all know, I think it's safe to say that Benitez is not the most popular choice with the fans. A number of supporters have voiced their discontent at his appointment, with some claiming that his six-year stint at rivals Liverpool is part of the problem.
The Spaniard flew back from a business engagement in Abu Dhabi to agree on an 18-month contract with the current Champions League winners. It is understood that the Blues will review Benitez's deal at the end of the season. That will be interesting...
So, let's look back at the last 24 hours shall we? Roberto Di Matteo was sacked after nine months in charge at the Bridge yesterday morning and it swiftly became aware that Benitez was going to become the new coach on a temporary basis.
The Spaniard is expected to take the hotseat in front of the media at 5.30pm but it has been reported that the former Liverpool boss is slightly delayed but we shall let you know as soon as we can!
Hello all and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Rafael Benitez's first press conference as the new Chelsea manager.
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Danielle Joynson
