Rafael Benitez takes a jibe at Jose Mourinho

Former Chelsea Interim Manager Rafael Benitez talks to David Luiz of Chelsea during a Chelsea training session ahead of the UEFA Europa League Final match against SL Benfica at the Amsterdam Arena on May 14, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

This will probably frustrate some of the Blues out there. The latest news surrounding the London outfit is that their former boss Rafa Benitez, or should I say the ’interim’ manager’, has said that defender David Luiz is a world class player and will be effective as long as he is ‘managed properly’.

He’s one of the best central defenders in the world,’ says Benitez. Quoted by the Dailymail

‘I was coaching him and I can tell you he’s one of the best in the world, because he has everything. You just have to manage him properly – and then he is one of the best in the world. I could explain exactly what I wanted and tactically he is very clever. He needs just the people who can give him the ideas and the instructions of what to do and then he will do them, because he is very clever.’

‘I don’t see too many better in the air. I don’t see too many better or quicker or faster than him. I don’t see too many technically better. Tactically, he is much better than the rest of players around him.’

This comes after Jose Mourinho’s decision to bench the Brazilian defender during their 2-0 win over Fulham yesterday. Having already faced a lot of questions for benching Juan Mata, Benitez’ words will certainly frustrate the manger, and more importantly the fans, who never really allowed the former Liverpool boss to settle down at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho and Benitez have not had the best of relationships in the past, and it would be interesting to see what Mourinho’s reply to this is.

The Portuguese manager, on the eve of his return to the Champions League stage with the Blues, talked about Benitez’ Europa League triumph with them.

‘I don’t want to win the Europa League. I don’t want my players to feel the Europa League is our competition,’

Well maybe, Benitez would be the “happier one” now after Chelsea’s shocking defeat to Basel.

In other news, Jose Mourinho replied to Jamie Redknapp’s comments about Mata’s bench time, and reminded the journalist that he is the boss at Chelsea.

‘In my office before the game I was enjoying your stats and your comparison between Oscar and Juan last year. You cannot compare a number 10 with a player who plays wide on the right and chases the full-back up and down all the time.

‘I respect you a lot, I think you are very good but Chelsea manager is Jose Mourinho, not Jamie Redknapp.’