Cech urges fans to give Benitez a chance

Petr Cech has urged Chelsea fans to give Rafa Benitez a chance as their new manager after the Spaniard was booed in his first game in charge.

The 52-year-old was greeted with boos and chants of ‘There’s only one Di Matteo’ when he emerged from the tunnel before Chelsea’s goalless draw against the defending Premier League champions.

Cech understands the supporters’ hostility towards the former Liverpool manager but asked fans to support the new boss at Stamford Bridge.

“Unfortunately you cannot change the history,” Cech told Sky Sports.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. Mr Benitez was the Liverpool coach obviously, we had a lot of rivalry and it comes from there.

“But he is here to try and change things and put us in a winning mode. He needs to be given a chance to prove his worth.”

The Czech international also expressed his sympathy for former manager Roberto Di Matteo after his sacking earlier in the week.

“It’s always bad news as a player because you are responsible for the situation as well. The manager and players are in the same boat and if you don’t do well it’s the players’ responsibility as well as the manager’s,” he added.

“Unfortunately you cannot change the whole team, the manager has to go, that happened again.”