Rafa Benítez: "I have more support out there than people think"

Rafael Benítez isn't enjoying an easy life at Chelsea. He talked about this in an interview he gave to MARCA in his office at the extensive Chelsea training centre at Cobham. His team is still doing well in the Premier League, fighting to keep third place, and is still in the FA Cup and the Europa League.

"I spend most of my time here at the Cobham Training Centre and almost never go into London. And I have to say this - people are very civil to me out on the streets. Many Blues fans stop me and tell me to keep on plugging away and not to listen to the critics. I have a lot more day-to-day support than is shown, and people think", says Benítez.

"We are doing a great job. People only look at the results, but you have to analyse when and how we get there, and look at the overcrowded fixture programme. With three matches a week, it's impossible to have an ideal physical, tactical and strategic training system. We have already played 63 official games this season, nine a month. We are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and third in the Premier League. Meeting our objectives", he adds.