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Benitez insists: I will not be at Chelsea next season

Rafael Benitez has fumed at Chelsea supporters and insisted he will not be manager at the club next season.

The Spaniard took over from Roberto Di Matteo in November and has been criticised by Blues fans ever since prompting him to basically giver his notice that he will not return when his short-term contract expires in May.

Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 2-0 in the FA Cup fifth round at the Riverside Stadium tonight but Benitez was left incensed at supporters who continue to sully his name.

"I have been in charge in football for 26 years. I have won the Champions League, won the FIFA Club World Cup, the FA Cup, the Italian Super Cup, the Spanish league twice, nine trophies, all the trophies you can win at club level," he said.

"A group of fans, they are not doing any favours for the team when they are singing and wasting time preparing banners. It's because someone made a mistake. They put my title as 'interim manager'.

"I will leave at the end of the season, so they don't need to waste time with me. They have to concentrate on supporting the team, that's what they have to do.

"In the end, they are not doing any favours to the club, to the rest of the fans and to the players."

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Andrew Slevison
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