Benitez in frame to replace Villas-Boas at Chelsea
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas sees his position at Stamford Bridge to come under more scrutiny with reports that Rafa Benitez is being lined up to take over, The Daily Mail reports.
Villas-Boas takes his side to Napoli tonight in the second round of the Champions League and defeat in the Stadio San Paolo could see the Portuguese boss in a precarious position. Chelsea's season has been average under the 34 year old and reports of striker Didier Drogba taking the team-talk against Birmingham on the weekend adds further pressure to Villas-Boas.
Benitez has been jobless since leaving Inter Milan at the end of 2010 and is immediately available to take over at Chelsea. The Spaniard has a good track record in Champions League football and won the competition with Liverpool in 2005, which will appeal to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. The Russian billionaire is desperate to win the Champions League after coming so close in the 2007 final in Moscow. Benitez could also get Fernando Torres to rediscover the form he showed under the 51 year old at Liverpool.
Athletic Bilbao manager Marcelo Bielsa has also been linked with the Chelsea job after a successful season so far with the Spanish side. The former Argentina boss is renowned for being an innovator and has also been linked with the Barcelona job, should Pep Guardiola leave at the end of the season.
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