Thursday 22 November 2012 08:36, UK
Rafa Benitez has been appointed as the interim Chelsea manager until the end of the season.
The length of Benitez's contract appears the clearest indication yet of owner Roman Abramovich's determination to land Pep Guardiola once the former Barcelona boss completes his one-year sabbatical. But that failed to deter Benitez, who will look to convince Chelsea or another big club to give him a longer-term deal. It is impossible not to deduce part of Benitez's appeal to Abramovich was his relationship with Torres. Benitez told Sport360 shortly before his appointment: "I think you can see in his face that he is almost trying too hard. But I think the potential is still there. "The problem with some players is that they are doing so well in a team and the understanding is so good that it is difficult to replicate that in another team. "Sometimes, it is a question of time, but he is a good player, is keen to learn and is a good professional." Di Matteo finally lost patience with Torres in his last match in charge but he expressed few regrets about his unparalleled eight-month tenure last night. "It was an honour for me to be appointed manager of a club that I loved playing for and one that is so close to my heart," he said in a statement issued by the League Managers Association. "I am extremely proud of the successes and trophies that we were able to bring to the club in recent months. "Lifting Chelsea's first Champions League trophy, in Munich, was the best achievement in club history and without doubt the highlight of my career to date, both as a player and manager. It is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life. "I have a deep and unreserved passion for Chelsea Football Club and I would like to sincerely thank all of the staff, my players and of course the Chelsea fans, for their tremendous and unconditioned support in the intense time I have been the manager at the Bridge. I wish all of them every success for the rest of the season and beyond."