Mancini is Afraid of Benitez effect

Roberto Mancini believes Chelsea will be more dangerous opponents for Manchester City after sacking Roberto Di Matteo..

And a wary Mancini, who believes Di Matteo was unlucky to lose his job, believes Chelsea could benefit from the bounce many a team with a new manager enjoys.The Premier League champions visit the Champions League winners on Sunday in Chelsea's first game under interim manager Rafael Benitez.

"Usually when one team changes a manager the game after for the opponents is very difficult," he said. "For us, I think it is more difficult."

Mancini expressed his sympathy for his fellow Italian Di Matteo, who was sacked in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a 3-0 defeat to Juventus.

"I am very sorry for Di Matteo because he won the Champions League three months ago or four months ago [actually six] but this is our life," he added. "When we made this choice we know it can also be difficult. This is the manager's life."

City have overhauled Chelsea this month to take over the lead of the Premier League but Mancini said the Londoners had been in fine form under Di Matteo.

"Until three games ago they played fantastic football and were on the top," he said. "I think Chelsea were a good team with Di Matteo and will be a good team with Benitez. They have good players."

Benitez has been reunited with Fernando Torres, who he signed for Liverpool and who was dropped by Di Matteo in Turin on Tuesday.

Torres has only scored once in his last eight Chelsea appearances and Mancini added: "I think Fernando is a good striker. Sometimes for the striker it is difficult if you don't score for three or four games like him."

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Wenger praises in-form Giroud

Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has attracted significant praise from manager Arsene Wenger after a string of consistent performances..

Giroud, 26, had a slow start to the Premier League season but has hit his stride with five goals in his last six games and a strong presence in Arsenal's attack.

His latest exploits in the Gunners' 2-0 Champions League win over Montpellier midweek allowed Wenger to acknowledge that the Frenchman has finally settled into English football.

"Giroud convinces you about something more than just his game, it is overall attitude, he is genuine, a fighter and is ready to have a go," Wenger said. "That is why he is accepted, not just because of his game, but he is really genuinely committed on the pitch.

"I believe he has the characteristics of a centre-forward I like in England - complete commitment, capability to win balls in the air and fighting attitude. Maybe he is one of the best headers [Arsenal have ever had].

"We have adapted to his strengths - when you cross the ball, you still think you have a chance to win the header whereas before it was a chance of a counter-attack."

Giroud failed to find the net in his first six appearances for Arsenal, but Wenger insists he wasn't fazed by the goal drought.

"You tell them it is not important, but they know it's important to score so you don't try to make them feel guilty - but they still do. You can't change that," he said. "According to our studies, it comes in cycles. When some guys don't score for three, four or maybe five games they become nervous.

"If it's more than five they will be questioned and they know that as well. People say: 'okay, he works hard, but when does he score a goal?' When they start to score it becomes completely natural for them."

Arsenal travel to Villa Park on Saturday and Wenger will place a target on Christian Benteke, who he tried to sign in the summer.

"Benteke has scored some impressive goals and has complete power," Wenger said. "We have looked at him yes. It was interesting. I was surprised when he signed at Villa, but we had already bought Giroud."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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Benitez: I ranked Wenger Far above Ferguson

Rafa Benitez has claimed he doesn't enjoy mind games, but that didn't stop him taking part in them during his first Friday press conference as he placed Arsene Wenger ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson as a manager..

On his first full day in the Chelsea job, the Spaniard was greeted with a typical barb from his old sparring partner Ferguson, who claimed he was "lucky" to be in a position to win a second Club World Cup.

Benitez, however, responded by talking about how he ranked Wenger above the Manchester United manager when he first came to England, and that any such comments were only in reply to other managers "pushing him".

"No, I don't enjoy that [mind games]. I enjoy my team playing well and winning games. I have to defend my team, my club, so I cannot wait while they push and push," Benitez said.

"You're playing to win trophies, and only one can win it. Some managers in the middle of the table can be friendly, but only one wins it. People try to win in different ways. I like to respect people, but sometimes I cannot because they push you...

"There are a lot of good managers in the world, many who have won trophies. I don't like to talk about other managers. When I came to England I knew the other managers. Arsene Wenger was the best manager who had been here for a while. But I cannot talk about these things every day."

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Benitez confirmed as new Chelsea boss

Rafael Benitez has been confirmed as Chelsea's new manager, after the club sacked Roberto Di Matteo in the aftermath of Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus..



 The 52-year-old takes charge of the European champions on an interim basis until the end of the current campaign after spending almost two years out of work following his dismissal at Inter. A statement on the club's official website read: "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 [Thursday]." Benitez will take charge of his second Premier League club after a successful six-year spell at Liverpool between 2004 and 2010.

 His time on Merseyside led to success in Europe as he won the club's fifth European Cup in his second season in 2005, while he also secured the FA Cup a year later. Roman Abramovich relieved Di Matteo of his duties on Wednesday morning despite the Italian guiding the club to their maiden Champions League trophy and a seventh FA Cup last season.

 Di Matteo signed a two-year deal in the summer, but has seen his position questioned almost continually since with Pep Guardiola thought to wanted by the Russian oligarch to lead the club. Benitez becomes the ninth Blues manager in nine years in the Abramovich era.

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Rodgers: We need time to succeed

Brendan Rodgers has declared that short-term pain will lead to long-term gain at Liverpool and has praised the club's board for being prepared to give him time..

Having replaced Kenny Dalglish at Anfield in June, Liverpool boss Rodgers had a testing start, picking up just two points from his first five Premier League matches as the club slipped to 18th place.Rodgers was dismayed to learn that his former club Chelsea had sacked manager Roberto Di Matteo on Wednesday, less than six months after he led them to the Champions League title.

A run of seven league matches unbeaten since then has given cause for optimism, although only three of those have been won.

Liverpool have climbed to 11th place, and even though they are eight points adrift of a Champions League spot, Rodgers is hopeful of challenging for a top-four finish.

But he is glad that chairman Tom Werner and principal owner John W Henry are prepared to show him more patience than Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has with Di Matteo.

"It's disappointing. I think every manager is under pressure, but it's particularly true at the big clubs, where the demand for success is incredible," Rodgers said. "I felt for Robbie. He went in there and did a brilliant job.

"It's incredible really that you can win the Champions League and a domestic cup competition, and yet find yourself out of a job. It's a disappointing day if you're a manager because it really shows the game that we're in now.

"It used to be years ago that if you were bottom of the league, and you hadn't won for 10 games, then there was a likelihood that you might lose your job.

"Now it seems that if you're at the top of the league and winning trophies, you might lose your job."

Rodgers, a former youth and reserve team boss at Chelsea, had his own experience of a quick sacking when he was fired by Reading in December 2009 after less than six months in the role.

He subsequently rebuilt his managerial career at Swansea, guiding them to the Premier League in 2011, but wanted assurances from Liverpool's American owners before agreeing to move to Anfield in June.

"I came in with a three-year contract [at Reading] and had great belief that I was brought in to change the philosophy and ideas of the club. And 20 games later, I was out of a job," Rodgers said. "That's the harsh reality of managing a football club. And from that, I learned a lesson. But I've been grateful to the board here.

"In order for me to come here, that was going to be important, because if we were going to keep the club moving in the right direction, it was going to need that bit of stability.

"But in that short term, you want success, and you have to show that there is improvement. I believe we are starting to show improvement. There is a real spirit and a real unity among us all.

"If we can stay like that and get through the pain together, then we can get out the other side and look to restore Liverpool to where they should be. It's difficult, especially in the modern game."

Rodgers is looking to take Liverpool into the knockout stages of the Europa League, and could secure qualification with a game to spare in Group A if they beat Swiss club Young Boys at Anfield on Thursday and rivals Udinese fail to win against Anzhi Makhachkala.

"We'll make changes, but the squad is the squad," he said. "We didn't take Steven Gerrard and one or two others to Switzerland, but they will all be involved tomorrow night.

"We'll have a strong team. I will make changes for the game. I have to respect that we've got a really busy schedule. We've got four games in the next 10 days, and that's a big ask to keep the same group of players playing in all of those.

"It's an opportunity for us tomorrow night. All being well, we get the result. And if the other result goes for us, then we'll navigate our way through the group, and that has always been our intention, to qualify. So it's a good opportunity for us, and we'll put out a team we feel can win the game."

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Di Matteo reveals pride in Chelsea term

Roberto Di Matteo has spoken of his pride at managing Chelsea and insists he has no ill feelings towards the club after being sacked just eight months into his Chelsea tenure..

Di Matteo was replaced by Rafael Benitez on Wednesday, but in a statement via the League Managers Association, he praised the club's fans for their support.

"It was an honour for me to be appointed manager of a club that I loved playing for and one that is so close to my heart," the statement read. "I am extremely proud of the successes and trophies that we were able to bring to the club in recent months.

"Lifting Chelsea's first Champions League trophy, in Munich, was the best achievement in club history and without doubt the highlight of my career to date, both as a player and manager. It is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.

"I have a deep and unreserved passion for Chelsea Football Club and I would like to sincerely thank all of the staff, my players and of course the Chelsea fans, for their tremendous and unconditioned support in the intense time I have been the manager at the Bridge. I wish all of them every success for the rest of the season and beyond."

Richard Bevan, chief executive of the LMA, backed Di Matteo to continue his managerial career after such short-term success.

"The LMA shares Roberto's disappointment following Chelsea's decision to relieve him of his managerial duties," Bevan said. "What cannot be questioned is Roberto's passion for the club and the honesty and integrity he has shown throughout his time in charge.

"His record of a Champions League title and FA Cup triumph, speaks for itself, and he can be incredibly proud of what he has achieved in such a short space of time.

"Roberto has received a huge number of messages of support from across the game; from other managers, coaches, administrators at other clubs, Chelsea supporters and the Chelsea players themselves.

"I know he is extremely appreciative of receiving so much support and solidarity, and it demonstrates the high regard and respect that those in the game have for Roberto."

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Gullit shocked by Di Matteo departure

Ruud Gullit has been shocked at the ruthless way Chelsea ended manager Roberto Di Matteo's short spell in charge of the club..

Di Matteo was sacked by Chelsea on Wednesday morning after a 3-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus left them in danger of becoming the first holders to exit the competition in the group stage.

The Italian manager also oversaw a winless run of four games in the Premier League and two defeats in the last three European ties, but Gullit, who managed Di Matteo during his time as Chelsea manager, remains shocked at the timing of his departure.

"I can't believe that Chelsea just sacked him without knowing who is going to be the next one,'' Gullit told Sky Sports News.

"I will be curious to see what they do in the next couple of days. I can't believe they have just sacked him out of the blue and then they'll be thinking about who is going to be the next one. I don't think so.

"I think they have already in mind who is going to be the next one. It could of course be Mourinho, if it happens, I don't know because it is in the middle of the season.

"I already had a very good feeling that when Robbie won the Champions League that maybe they (the Chelsea board) already had somebody else in the frame to take over," he said.

"I don't think they took any notice of the fact that Robbie could win it. That was the reason I believe that they took so long to sign Robbie because they were looking for other people. In the end they gave it to Robbie.

"I always had the feeling that Mourinho was in the frame all the time - for the simple reason that he signed just after Chelsea won the Champions League. He signed his contract with Real Madrid and for me that is no coincidence."

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand echoed Gullit's disbelief, describing Di Matteo's sacking as "madness" and advocating the need for managerial stability in order to bring sustained success.

Ferdinand, who has only worked under Sir Alex Ferguson during his decade at Old Trafford, wrote on Twitter: "Wow, Chelsea have sacked their manager!!

"I'm a bit late I know but its a madness. The stability at our club is something our manager rarely gets praise for...don't under estimate that. £LambChopped."

Alan Pardew, who recently signed an eight-year contract extension at Newcastle, was also in disbelief at Chelsea's decision to part with their manager.

Pardew described the sacking as "unfair" and insisted Di Matteo did nothing to warrant being put out of a job.

"I'm astonished really. It just goes to show you how precarious we are as managers," Pardew said.

"You can't take anything for granted. The shock there is from the media and the fans should sound out to the owner of that club.

"Is that their ninth manager in a few years? It is just unfair. As far as I'm concerned he's done absolutely nothing wrong. The philosophy was to try to change the look of the team.

"That doesn't happen overnight. He's won two competitions in less than a year. It is unbelievable. He should walk straight into another job."

Meanwhile Juventus legend Dino Zoff is confident Di Matteo will bounce back from his disappointment at Chelsea. "It's a shame, he's a man and a coach who knows what is going on," Zoff told TuttoMercatoWeb. "Getting sacked happens, but he is an exemplary professional and he'll know how to pick himself back up.

"Di Matteo is ready for anything. It may have ended badly at Chelsea, but facing this Juventus side is not easy."

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Mancini targets Europa League success

Roberto Mancini blamed Manchester City's catalogue of errors throughout the campaign for Wednesday's Champions League exit, but defiantly stated that he wants to qualify for the Europa League..

With such a busy league schedule still to come, Mancini was asked if he would prefer to avoid extra fixtures in the Europa League, but the Italian replied on Sky Sports: "We want to be in the Europa League, if it is possible."Mancini saw his men crash out of the competition at the Etihad, drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid when only a win would do. They must now win in Dortmund and hope Ajax do not beat Madrid in order to enter the Europa League.

Reflecting on City's doomed campaign, which has seen them take three points from five matches, Mancini recalled key moments away at Madrid and Ajax, when both times City led before losing.

"We didn't lose it tonight, we lost it in the first games. Madrid [away] and Dortmund at home, and at Ajax, we made mistakes. At Madrid we were leading 2-1 with five minutes to go. At Ajax we led 1-0 with two chances to close the game.

"I hope this helps to give us more experience. I am disappointed, like everyone here. But also, when we started this group we knew it was a difficult group. We are a good team, but when you play Madrid or Dortmund, these things can happen. We wanted to go to the next stage.

"We will try to go into the Europa League," he pledged. "We need to win in Dortmund. Also because probably because until the semi-final or final, it is not important like the Champions League but if you arrive in the final it could be an important trophy for us."

Mancini was asked if he feared the sack to which he replied: "No," he replied. "Why? I don't fear this. If we think we can win a Champions League after two years, I think we are crazy.

"Chelsea tried to win a Champions League for 10 years. Probably in their best moments they didn't win, and when they deserve to win a Champions League they didn't win. The Champions League is strange, is difficult. Probably we need to improve our team. There are a lot of teams better than us in the Champions League."

Even in Wednesday's encounter, a clear defensive error from Maicon allowed Madrid to open the scoring, and Mancini insisted his team simply had to cut out such problems. He also paid tribute to the club's fans, who sang Mancini's name at full-time.

"The fans are fantastic, always they understand we are disappointed like them. They are really important because the season is not finished. We have the league, the FA Cup, other competitions.

"The first chance [Madrid] had, they scored. We made a mistake because we had five against two in the box and we conceded a goal. When you start this way, it's always difficult.

"We were 1-0 down and had nothing to lose, so we pushed up and played better, but also Madrid just played better than us in the first half."

Jose Mourinho taunted Mancini by saying that if his side had failed to qualify, he could be out of a job. He said: "In this group we knew from the beginning a big team [would go] out and it is good it is City because Roberto can work without any problem. If it was Real, the press wouldn't let me return to Madrid.

"It is incredible that you look at the array of players they have got that they have been eliminated in the group stages two years running."

Mourinho's former club Chelsea, who are in danger of an early exit from the Champions League, have sacked Roberto Di Matteo, but City are expected to stick with Mancini. "I think that's good," Mourinho added. "I think the club must support its manager the maximum they can until the last day when they decide to make a change."

The Portuguese wished his old adversary Rafa Benitez well at Stamford Bridge after the Spaniard was appointed Di Matteo's successor.

He added: "Everybody knows I like my old teams. I like Chelsea, I like Inter, I like Porto, I like my old teams to win so I always wish good to the managers of my former clubs so I wish good [luck] to Benitez."

Mourinho said he was sorry to see Di Matteo leave, explaining: "I am never happy when a manager is sacked because it can happen to me. I always feel sorry for him and his family because our lives are very similar." Joe Hart said the English champions had surprised themselves "in a very bad way" after they posted a fifth straight result without a win in Europe.

"It's incredibly disappointing," Hart said on Sky Sports. "It's incredibly frustrating. We're a very good team and we've surprised ourselves in a very bad way. We weren't able to do the business when it mattered.

"All games have cost us. We've lost two away games and drawn at home. We led in the away games and lost. It's been a bad campaign for us."

"The ref's not had the best night. I'm not usually one to blame officials, but the ball's out of play for 20 minutes, I'm surprised at them for doing that," Hart said. "But we're out of the competition."

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