MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 05:13:43| >> :120:16978:16978:

Rafael Benitez plays down bust-up talk

Benitez plays down bust-up talk
© PA Photos
Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez attempts to play down claims that he was involved in a row with a number of his players yesterday.

Interim manager Rafael Benitez has dismissed speculation that he had a bust-up with several members of the Chelsea squad at the club's training base in Cobham yesterday afternoon.

Reports had claimed that Benitez had been highly critical of the players in the wake of their 2-0 defeat away at Manchester City on Sunday, which had resulted in a row between the Spaniard and captain John Terry in particular.

However, Benitez has played down those stories by describing the meeting as "normal".

"It was a normal meeting between the players and the technical staff. [It happens] after every game," Benitez told reporters. "You can see all around the world.

"Meetings, talking - you share your opinions and it's normal, especially after a defeat. It was a very brief exchange of ideas, just a team talk after a defeat, and that's it."

On Terry, Benitez conceded that he fully understood the former England international's frustrations.

"I can understand the frustration of Terry because he's an important player for us. He's trying to help, trying to push because we want to win," he added.

"I can understand his frustration because he has been injured for 16 weeks and he has had problems with his knee. He has missed some training sessions. He had a specific plan that we prepared for him.

"We are managing him. We know that he's an important player for us and we know that he wants to win. It's normal to share opinions and that's it."

The loss to City has seen the Blues drop to fourth in the Premier League table.

ID:71366: cacheID:71366:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2667:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez during his side's match with Wigan on February 9, 2013
Read Next:
Terry, Benitez clash before training?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
10am
Cachin
Ofner
10am
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
10am
Gasquet
Sonego
10am
Hanfmann
Mensik
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
10am
Lajovic
Monteiro
10am
Machac
Ruusuvuori
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
10am
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
10am
O'Connell
Arnaldi
10am
Purcell
Giron
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
10am
Tabilo
Cobolli
10am
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
10am
Azarenka
Maria
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
10am
Gauff
Rus
10am
Keys
Camelia-Begu
10am
Podoroska
Navarro
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Altmaier
Fils
10am
Darderi
Fritz
10am
Griekspoor
Daniel
10am
Munar
Struff
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Navone
Rune
10am
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
10am
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
10am
Vekic
Sakkari
11.30am
Arango
Yastremska
11.30am
Osaka
Samsonova
11.30am
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
1pm
Haddad Maia
Errani
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!