HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE RAFA?

Interim, care-taker, temporary, acting, short-term, these are are words that have been used to describe many managers (some might say all) in the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea football club. Guss Hiddink, Roberto Di Matteo, Avram Grant and now Rafa Benitez have all been called one of these. 

Never in my short time of  watching football have I seen a manager hated by the fans of the team he coaches as much as Benitez is. Benitez isn't hated for his tactics, (even though it is a contributing factor, seeing as the club is looking to adopt a more expansive style of football), or for his man management skills (don't ask Materazzi). It is his infamous press conferences that have made him so unpopular with the Stamford bridge faithful. 

Due to the high pressured nature of their jobs, managers tend to have episodes like the one Benitez had yesterday, he now has more than five to his credit. 

Why did Rafa's newest rant installment include citing the club not backing him by calling him interim, as a reason for the team's bad performance? 

That the appointment of Rafa Benitez was short term wasn't a secret, it's even in his contract that he is interim. Avram Grant was called interim, he took Chelsea to their first champions league final. Guus Hiddink and Di Matteo were also called interim, the team did better under them than under those they replaced, they both delivered trophies. Hiddink the F.A Cup, Di Matteo the F.A Cup and the Champions League (same number of trophies Benitez has won in all his time in English football).  

So is the club calling him interim the reason for Chelsea playing badly? NO! 

He also blames the fans for the team's poor performance. 

 I agree that there is some truth to this, as fans singing 'we don't care about Rafa' doesn't create a positive atmosphere. But Benitez didn't expect the Chelsea fans to welcome him with open arms after his press conferences, in one he said: 

"We don't need to give away flags to our fans to wave - our supporters are always there with their hearts, and that is all we need. It is the passion of the fans that helps to win matches, not flags". If you don't know already,here he was taking a swipe at Chelsea fans. 

In another he said: 

"Chelsea is a big club with fantastic players, every manager wants to coach such a big team, but I'll never take that job, in respect to my former team Liverpool, no matter what. For me there is only one team in England and that is Liverpool". 

 Just like the appointment of Sam Allardyce wasn't popular with Westham fans but after he helped them qualify back into the top tier of English football winning games, there they had no choice but to back him, Benitez knew that the only way to get the fans on his side was to keep winning games. In fact there was a time when Chelsea had a good run of form in December 2012, the 'boo-boys' were quiet. 

So is Rafa blaming the fans right? Maybe, managers have made worse excuses. Are they the reason for the team's poor performance? NO! 

Who is to blame for Chelsea's woes you ask? 

The answer might surprise you, but it is SIR ALEX FERGUSON. Yes you are reading it right.  

All problems have a starting date, Rafa's problems and now consequently Chelsea's started the day he decided to engage in mind games with Sir Alex in the 2008/2009 football season, when he had his famous conspiracy theory press conference. He was still at Liverpool and they were in contention for the English Premier League trophy. Liverpool eventually lost out to Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United team and Benitez hasn't been the same since. 

Like problems that end after a while (A pick me up for Arsenal fans), Chelsea's problem will expire when Benitez's contract does or maybe before (depending on Abramovich). This isn't to say they don't or wouldn't have other problems but the 'Rafa problem' will be gone. Many are saying Benitez has committed managerial suicide with his latest outburst, I say there is still a chance of redemption. 

 I should recommend he sees a Psychotherapist but why pay all that money, I say confront Sir Alex and take your marbles back!!!