Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez will accompany his team immediately after the season ends on Sunday on the club's United States post-season tour where they'll play Manchester City in two friendlies — in St Louis and New York City.
Benitez's contract with Chelsea expires at the end of May, so he'll be managing Chelsea for their matches against Manchester City in St Louis on May 23 and in New York City on May 25.
Despite being the victim of a lot of hate from Chelsea supporters during his seven months in charge as manager of Chelsea, Rafa Benitez has overcome adversities from his own supporters to lift the Europa League trophy and end Chelsea's season on a high with the club's home game against Everton on Sunday, where the club needs just a draw to finish in third place.
Chelsea has been up and down over the last few years. In 2011 Carlo Ancelotti was fired as the club "only" made it to second place in the Premier League (the previous year he had led them to their first "Double"). For the start of the 2011-12 season Andre Villas-Boas became manager, and under him team performance dipped with a string of defeats.
Would Mourinho really be an upgrade on Benitez for Chelsea? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Chelsea will replace interim manager Rafael Benitez this summer, with the favourite to assume the Stamford Bridge hotseat none other than Jose Mourinho. Although the self-proclaimed special one has won trophies wherever he has managed, the outgoing Spanish boss' list of achievements is not too shabby either.
On a day when this game should be the biggest news, it's a shame that Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur been dwarfed by the news that Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring. Trust Fergie to pick a day to out-do Rafael Benitez.
This is a match where everything is on the line. A win for Chelsea will guarantee them a place in the UEFA Champions League next season.
Watch out Fergie! Mourinho is back, and he'll be going on a huge spending spree this summer at Stamford Bridge to bring in some of the biggest names in the sport, according to a story in theEvening Standard.
The players on Mourinho's shopping list include Robert Lewandowski and Radamel Falcao, as well as several current Real Madrid stars.
It's sure to be an emotional return for Rafa on Sunday... Image: mirror.co.uk
Sunday will not only be a big game for Liverpool as they search to pick up all three points against rivals Chelsea but it will also mark the return of a very special man to most; Rafael Benitez.
Robin Van Persie of Manchester United (Image via ABC.au)
Five of the Premier League's top-six placed teams were in action in midweek. The games might have been low on season-altering drama, but they were an entertaining step forward in 2012-13's final run-in
Manchester United's misstep at Upton Park might have had more severe repercussions if reigning champions Manchester City were closer in the league.
New date for Chelsea v Tottenham announced - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Chelsea have confirmed on their official website that the vital Chelsea v Tottenham clash at the Stamford Bridge has been rescheduled for Wednesday, 8th May, 2013 – kick-off will be at 19:45 PM (local time).
Manchester City withstood a late fightback from Chelsea to win a gripping FA Cup semi-final 2-1 at Wembley Stadium this afternoon and knock the holders out of the competition.
Goals in each half from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero put City in control, but Chelsea replied through Demba Ba, only for Roberto Mancini's men to resist the holders' desperate search for an equaliser.
Europa League QF Second Leg Preview: How will English teams fare? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Last week, in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals, none of the teams were able to open up a gap of more than two goals over their opponents. Fenerbahce managed the most comprehensive result as they scored two unanswered goals against Lazio at home.
Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez claims he is 'almost certain' he will one day return to Anfield to become the manager of Liverpool again. Benitez parted company with Liverpool in the summer of 2010 after the Reds had limped to seventh place in the Premier League, having endured their worst run in 22 years during the campaign.
Chelsea will host a tumultuous Sunderland side on Apr. 7, 2013, as the Black Cats are still reeling from the sacking of Martin O'Neill and the arrival of controversial manager, Paulo Di Canio earlier in the week.
The Blues are rolling in all competitions after having knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup on the first day of April and now are now 3-1 up on Rubin Kazan in the UEFA Europa League.
Following Demba Ba's wonder strike against Man United at the weekend, surely Fernando Torres had to do something anything to get everyone else to sit up and notice! So in the Europa League last night, he borrowed a mask from The Petr Cech Collection™, fittingly scored twice against Rubin Kazan and transformed himself into the Spanish Batman for a good 90 minutes.
Chelsea v Rubin Kazan Preview: Chelsea have never lost to Russian opposition - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Chelsea v Rubin Kazan Quarterfinal, UEFA Europa League Stamford Bridge, London, England Thursday, 4th April, 2013 20:05 GMT Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Chelsea v Rubin Kazan
Chelsea will look to continue their great form against Russian opposition as they prepare to host Rubin Kazan.
Where will Rafa Benitez end up this summer? As a manager on the continent, or — as he thinks — managing a top club in the Premier League? I don't foresee any managerial changes this summer at any of the top 5 Premier League teams, so which team does he have his eyes on?
Here are tonight's Premier League news headlines:
Rafael Benitez sets his sights on summer move to 'top' English side — The Telegraph
Newcastle United create prayer room for Muslim players to worship before games — The Mirror
Vincent Kompany on Barcelona's radar after row with Roberto Mancini — Telegraph
How can football be a beautiful game and justify Paolo Di Canio's Nazi salute?
As the Premier League season comes to a close, Chelsea's schedule has significantly picked up. Chelsea continues to advance in both the FA Cup and the Europa League, thus extending their schedule. The Blues have five games over the course of just thirteen days.
This predicament that Chelsea is in can be seen in a good way and a bad way.
Southampton's 3-1 win over Liverpool last time out had the air of one that could come to be regarded as a season defining victory. A potentially challenging opponent deservedly vanquished to secure a vital three points in their battle against relegation. With a four point gap between them and the bottom three, the Saints have a genuine chance of getting out of this.
Premier League title race is over but there's much still at stake - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
With the World Cup qualifiers for March behind us, the focus shifts firmly to the English Premier League where except for the wide chasm between Manchester United and the rest, there's still plenty to play for.
Jose Mourinho to Chelsea in the summer? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
The news would definitely excite the Chelsea fans. According to ‘exclusive' reports from the Daily Express, former Chelsea manager and fan favourite Jose Mourinho has agreed a three-year contract with the Blues but it is yet to be signed.
Even after conquering the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup last year, Chelsea F.C. were runners-up for the UEFA Super Cup as well as the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013. Yet the club fortified the squad with two midfielders last summer with Brazilian international Oscar and Belgian Eden Hazard. But this year they have a newer and longer wish list for this upcoming transfer window.
David Luiz has assured the media and fans alike that Chelsea are keen for success in the Europa League.
The Blues, who lifted the Champions League trophy last May, are in Romania for the first leg of their last sixteen tie, and ahead of the game Luiz has insisted the club have the hunger to go all the way in the competition.
Cesar Azpilicueta during a Chelsea press conference (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
Chelsea take on Steaua Bucharesti in a rematch that they will hope to see go their way as utter disappointment last week in the first leg. The Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Romanian side, but will be looking to take advantage of their home crowd in the return.
Benitez repeats Istanbul tactics to thwart United - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
At half-time during the 2005 Champions League final, Rafael Benitez made his most impressive, and memorable, tactical decision in his time as Liverpool manager.
With his side losing 3-0 and being humiliated by a rampant AC Milan side, Benitez replaced right-back Steve Finnan with holding midfielder Didi Hamann.
European Weekend Review: Chelsea, Liverpool fight back; Schalke's double over Dortmund & three minutes of magic from Ibra - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
This has been a fascinating weekend of football in Europe where results dictated the fate of title races, individual bravura stole the show and pride prevailed in derby victory.
Join bwin and get a free £20 bet for Man United vs Chelsea
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have had disappointing weeks in the lead up to this game. United were robbed in the Champions League against Real Madrid, with Jose Mourinho conceding the best team lost, whilst Chelsea were outplayed and beaten by some Romanian team in the Europa League.
Wayne Rooney of Manchester United (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Manchester United are already sitting comfortably in the lead of the English Premier League, but today they will focus on their chances of ensuring a shot at an English domestic double.
One of the most sought after achievements in the English football is to lift both the FA Cup and the English League title, a feat that the Red Devils have completed more than once under in 1994, 1996 and 1999.
Europa League Round of 16 Preview: Newcastle, Chelsea head east; Spurs host Inter - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Shakhtar Donetsk was brushed aside by Borussia Dortmund as a 10-man Manchester United conceded two goals within ten minutes of the sending off. Celtic did not cause much trouble for Juventus while PSG's two away goals were too much to cope for Valencia and the final four fixtures of the Champions League Round of 16 will be played next week.
According to English newspaperThe Daily Star, Chelsea could be lining up their next boss. According to the paper, Juventus boss Antonio Conte is the man that Roman Abramovich is eyeing to take over the Stamford Bridge reins, following Rafa Benitez's admission that he'll be leaving the club this summer.
You would never think it was the case if you listened to Chelsea fans, by the Blues are up to third place in the Premier League after beating West Brom 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The home fans' anger at interim manager Rafael Benitez took centre stage before, during and after the match. There were a number of anti-Benitez banners dominating the stands at Stamford Bridge while the name "Jose Mourinho" was sung often and loudly by Chelsea fans.
Frank Lampard (C) of Chelsea celebrates his goal with Gary Cahill and Juan Mata (R) (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Chelsea will be looking to make a quick return to winning ways in the English Premier League after having fallen to Manchester City last week and fallen off their third place pedestal.
John Terry of Chelsea (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
When the news broke on Wednesday night that Rafael Benitez had angrily been ranting at Chelsea's hierarchy and supporters, it brought to mind his infamous rebuke of Sir Alex Ferguson in January 2009.
That earlier press conference outburst came at a time when Benitez's Liverpool side was neck and neck with Manchester United in the title race.
Eden Hazard of Chelsea (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Seventh place West Bromwich Albion will travel to Stamford Bridge Saturday to face Rafael Benitez and his 4th place Chelsea squad.
Over the past few weeks, Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has been under heavy scrutiny after a disappointing 1-1 draw to Sparta Prague in the Europa League, followed by a 0-2 loss away at Manchester City.
Rafa Benitez: The perfect manager in an imperfect world is a post from: Just Football
Rafael Benitez is a perfect man in an imperfect world.
His wildest dream, his only dream, all he ever wanted is to be the world's best football coach, executing the perfect game plan, in perfect, meticulous detail, perfectly.
Andre Villas-Boas was sacked following a defeat to West Brom, Roberto Di Matteo was sacked following a defeat to West Brom... so Rafael Benitez would do well to avoid an embarrassing result at home to the Baggies this weekend.
Di Matteo based his Chelsea side around the creative trio of Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata earlier this season, but Benitez has favoured a more cautious starting XI.
Poor Rafa Benitez he's been feeling a little hurt by the actions of several ungrateful Chelsea fans at Riverside stadium following the Blues' FA Cup 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough yesterday. The result has granted them a quarterfinal meeting against Man United but despite the result, a section of Chelsea supporters have continued to jeer at him during matches because of his long-standing association with rivals Liverpool.
Benitez may still be axed despite Chelsea's support - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Chelsea have played down speculations about the probable sacking of interim manager Rafael Benitez, following the Spaniard's angry tirade directed towards the club fans and hierarchies.
Rafa Benitez could never win the fans over
Benitez launched a scathing attack on Chelsea fans and the board after guiding the club to convincing FA Cup victory over Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
Manchester United must avoid Liverpool-like decline - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Despite – or perhaps because of – their unparalleled success under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United will require quick and decisive action to ensure their story is not one of crushing Liverpudlian decline.
The best Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
From the famous (or infamous, depending on where your loyalties lie) knocking Liverpool off their perch to comparing Arsene Wenger with a 15-year-old boy, Sir Alex Ferguson has never shied away from speaking his mind it's a different story that he banned some of the journalists from his press conferences though.
