Benitez calls for unity from Chelsea fans

The Spaniard has been named as interim coach at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season following the departure of Roberto Di Matteo.

Benitez had a number of Champions League showdowns with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea when Liverpool manager and some of his comments at the time antagonised the Blues fans.

But he said at his unveiling today: “I want to be honest, if I say this or that, I have to analyse the context.

“We were playing against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

“If I am a fan I want to see the manager fighting for my club. I don’t see this as a lack of respect for Chelsea’s fans, just a manager defending his team.”

He added: “I like to do things in the right way for the fans.

“The fans and manager want to win every single game, nobody wants to win more than than fans and manager.

“At the end I think that they will be pleased.”