Rafa Benitez: Another One bites the Dust?

[MadRo]

RDM Sacked after Chamions League Win!

Roberto Di Matteo learned his fate this morning after a board meeting at Chelsea’s training ground following the club’s return to Gatwick airport from Turin in the early hours. Sacking him was, The Independent has been told, an easy decision for the club’s board to make.
Not easy from a personal perspective because it meant parting company with a man who was admired within the club for his achievements last season in winning the Champions League and respected for his exploits as a player. He was liked by chairman Bruce Buck, chief executive Ron Gourlay and all those senior staff whose job it is to carry out the wishes of Roman Abramovich.
It was easy because Di Matteo was simply not delivering on the key objective set out to him in the summer – a failing he had been warned about consistently this season.
From the Independent...

 

[MadRo]

Benitez appointed as RDM replacement
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH completed arguably his most controversial day yet at Chelsea after appointing Rafael Benitez to succeed Roberto Di Matteo as manager.
The Russian handed the former Liverpool boss a contract until the end of the season, having seemingly been unable to woo Pep Guardiola, the man said to be his number one target.
Announcing that Benitez was an "interim" rather than permanent appointment, Chelsea said in a statement: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm Rafael Benitez has been appointed interim first-team manager until the end of the season.
"The owner and the board believe that, in Benitez, we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives.
"The 52-year-old Spaniard is due to meet the players at the training ground in Cobham tomorrow.
"The two-time UEFA Manager of the Year comes with outstanding pedigree.
"He began his managerial career in his homeland, most notably at Valencia where he built a reputation as one of Europe's top coaches by winning the Spanish League twice and the UEFA Cup.
"He then spent six years at Liverpool and led them to their fifth European Cup and an FA Cup."
From the Scottish Daily Record