Chelsea wing-back Ryan Bertrand insists the players are behind manager Rafa Benitez. Despite the draw at the Reading coming on the back of a similar result at Brentford and a cup exit to Swansea, Bertrand insisted team spirit is high and the squad is united.

He told chelseafc.com: "We always have been, no matter what gets written in the papers. Some of it is laughable but we are all together and we fight for one another.

"The players are the ones out on the pitch. When it does go wrong, in the case of all managers they take the blame, but we are the ones on the pitch trying to get the performances right.

"Playing for Rafael Benitez has been fine. It is another learning experience for me personally and I am trying to learn as much as I can."