Former Inter Milan coach Rafa Benitez of Spain (Photo: AP)
Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has announced his interest in succeeding Roberto Di Matteo as manager of Chelsea.
"Obviously it is a top side and they can compete for trophies, so it falls in this category. What I will say is that I am looking for a club that can challenge for trophies, so Chelsea is one of these clubs,” the unemployed tactician, Benitez, told the emirate's The National newspaper Wednesday.
The Blues fired coach Di Matteo early Wednesday, one day after a 3-0 loss to Juventus in the Champions League left the club on the brink of elimination.
The 52-year-old Spanish manager Benitez commented on not coaching for more than two years, saying he was looking for a "top side" that can challenge for trophies.
Benitez won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and finished second in the 2008-09 Premier League campaign before leaving the club in 2010.
In the Champions League, Chelsea is in third place in Group E behind Shakhtar Donetsk and Juventus. They will face Danish club Nordsjaelland in a must-win situation that could also eliminate them depending on other results.
Meanwhile, Chelsea had been leading for much of the Premier League season before falling to third place, behind Manchester City and Manchester United.
"The team's recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and board felt a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season," Chelsea stated on their official website.
Benitez lasted less than six months in his last job at Inter Milan before being fired despite winning the Club World Cup in 2011.
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