Rafa Benitez expects to hear from Pep Guardiola if the Spaniard is to take the Chelsea job from him next year.

Benitez insisted he had no problem keeping the manager's hotseat warm for his fellow Spaniard following his own appointment on an interim basis until the end of the season.

If he elects to join Chelsea, Benitez expects to be among the first to know.

"I think so!" he joked.

He added: "I have good relations with Pep so any time I call him, I say, 'How are you doing?'

"I know he is enjoying life in New York, now, with his family."

And would Benitez's bosses at Chelsea also tell him if they were in talks with Guardiola?

"I don't think that they will let me know," he shrugged.

He added: "But I don't have any problem. I know the situation. I have come to create a competitive team and to win trophies. It might be that you can win three trophies, which would be difficult for anyone."