The match came little more than 24 hours after co-owner Tom Hicks revealed he and George Gillett had met with Jurgen Klinsmann to discuss the possibility of him replacing the Spaniard.

But Benitez batted off questions about the affair, saying simply: "We weren't really thinking about it because we know it's important to progress in the FA Cup.

"I was not thinking too much about this, I was thinking about the game.

"I'm really happy because we won 5-0 and progressed in the competition."