Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has insisted that his players know the importance of the club's rivalry with Leeds United.

The two sides meet for the first time in eight years in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night, having endured a fierce rivalry dating back to the 1960s.

However, Benitez believes that his foreign players already know about the feud, but will reassure them of just how important the game is to the fans.

"I think so," said Benitez, when asked if his foreign players in particular knew of the rivalry.

"But anyway we will talk with them and explain how important is every game, how important is the competition for us and how important will be the game for all the fans of both clubs. The history is quite interesting.

"It's a night for good players, good professionals and people ready to perform on the pitch. We don't have to approach matches thinking too much about a battle. We have to approach games for football, try to play good football and enjoy it."

The teams meet at Elland Road on Wednesday night.