Rafael Benitez: What's all the fuss about?

Chelsea were comfortably cruising towards a victory against Reading only to be denied by two late goals from Adam le Fondre. In the end they had to settle for a draw, which means they are now 13 points behind Manchester United. Things aren’t much different in other competitions as their FA cup hopes are now hanging in the balance courtesy their replay against Brentford. While the Europa league is their only realistic opportunity for silverware this season.

The decline in form have raised concerns and a certain section of fans have already voiced their frustration by calling for Rafael Benitez’s head; someone who has never felt at home with  majority of Chelsea fans opposing his appointment in the first place itself. We all know that he was appointed as an interim manager and is the last choice for permanent manager post. So, why get rid of him now? Why all this fuss about Benitez now when we have already changed our manager midway through the season?

Chelsea as a team is in transition and it makes things more complex for an incoming manager as he is not the only one new in the dressing room but there are others too. That is definitely an odd combination which will pose huge challenges for even the best in the business.

Football teams always have long pre-season tours before start of a season giving the managers an opportunity to test his players and tactics in order to be best prepared for the season but what if you have a dressing room with new players and you are appointed mid way to save the club’s dismal season. Chelsea’s decline this season is not all up to Benitez’s appointment but a result of various factors. They has got a lot of young and new players who will take their own time to settle down.

They are desperately missing their talismanic striker Didier Drogba and have largely played this season without the services of their influential captain John Terry due to his suspension and injury. The two goals scored by Reading were a result of poor defending rather than Benitez’s poor team selection. Chelsea lack depth in the middle of the pitch with Oriol Romeu injured and Obi Mikel away on international duty. The makeshift pair of Frank Lampard and Ramires is doing their best but the team lacks someone who can lie deep and break the play something, which has put more pressure on the backline, something which cannot be blamed upon Benitez as he was not in command in the beginning of the season.

It is time for all Chelsea fans to get together and back their manager regardless of whether they want him next season or not.