Benitez pleased with Chelsea progress

Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez argues that the Blues have been doing a ‘great job’ under his tenure.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have slipped from title contention under the Spaniard but are five points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

Many supporters at Stamford Bridge have not taken well to Benitez since his arrival and the former Liverpool boss believes that tensions were heightened by negative comments about the club that were falsely attributed to him.

He told the Daily Mirror: “I try to have the vision of the big picture. If I’m here, it’s because I was successful. I have won all the trophies you can win at club level, in different countries and different teams. I know my ability and skill.

“But you cannot change things now, in this society, especially with Twitter and Facebook – they go so fast.

“In the past, you could have three people who were not happy about your team selections or your ­substitutions, or whatever, and nobody would notice.

“Now you can have one person in the Czech Republic, making up a quote and saying ‘Rafa said this’, and then it’s repeated over and again. It becomes ‘the truth’, even though it’s not true – and it was not true.

“The trouble is you cannot change the perception now of people who are on another continent and read on Twitter the opinion of someone else, who has a blog and wants to write something not true. ­It’s ­impossible.

“I have received a lot of messages and emails here at the club. Fans said: ‘You are doing a good job, carry on. We understand the situation. Don’t be worried because we are Chelsea fans and can see what you are trying to do’.

“I think we are doing a great job. Why? Because you can see the team has more balance, has a lot of young players who are learning and progressing in a ­transitional period.”

“We’re pleased with the evolution of the team but you want to win and finish in the top four to confirm all these things.”

Chelsea face Southampton at St Mary’s on Sunday.