Clarke plans for Chelsea return

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke says he is still hopeful of returning to Stamford Bridge as manager one day.

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke says he is still hopeful of returning to Stamford Bridge as manager one day.

The Scot played for the Blues between 1987-98 before joining the coaching staff and going on to be Jose Mourinho’s assistant during the Portuguese’s time in west London.

And Clarke reckons current Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez, who embarked on a measured rant towards the Chelsea fans and Roman Abramovich after Wednesday’s win over Middlesbrough, knew what he was getting himself in for when he took over the reins from Roberto Di Matteo earlier this season.

“Has he had a fair crack of it? If you are manager of a club like Chelsea you know what comes with the territory,” Clarke told reporters.

“Has it (his treatment) been unfair? It’s not for me to judge. I work for West Bromwich Albion. It’s a Chelsea matter.

“I think it’s too early to start connecting me with Chelsea. There are a lot of managers that have probably got a better case than me.

“But if you’re asking if I want to be manager of a top team in the future, of course.

“If you don’t have that ambition to better yourself you shouldn’t be in the game. But it’s not for now.

“The connections are inevitable. I can’t do anything about that. Chelsea has been a big part of my life; I’ve spent more than 40 per cent of it connected with them.”