Benitez relishes Abramovich leadership

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez believes working under Roman Abramovich will be ‘easy’ after his difficulties at Liverpool.

The 52-year-old, whose six-year reign at the Merseyside club began back in 2004, won both the FA Cup and Champions League during his time with the Reds.

Despite his success, however, a breakdown in the relationship between the Spaniard and the club’s owners led to his swift departure from Anfield in 2010. But that, claims Benitez, is not a problem he envisages at Chelsea.

“We have an owner, a technical director Michael Emenalo and a good (team of) staff. It’s easy,” he told reporters.

“I don’t have two owners who don’t talk to each other, which was a problem (at Liverpool).”

Abramovich, who has been notoriously impatient with managers at Stamford Bridge over the years, dismissed Roberto Di Matteo in the early hours of Wednesday morning just six months after the Italian had brought FA Cup and Champions League glory to the club.

Benitez admitted that he is fully aware that the only way to ensure his job is safe is to keep getting results.

“It is very simple. Winning games is a guarantee for everything,” he said.

“If you do it in a row you can win trophies. I’m really happy to be here in the Premier League with a chance to win trophies. Perfect.

“I analysed the squad. Can they win trophies? Yes. How many trophies can they win? We have five opportunities. Okay. Carry on.”

Benitez’s first game in charge is against champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.