Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez says Rafa Benitez shouldn't be surprised by events at Chelsea.

Martínez, despite being a staunch ally of the then Liverpool manager when he challenged Ferguson's authority in England, admits sympathy is in short supply for Benítez's predicament at Chelsea.

"That's probably the price of being at a club with huge expectations with an incredible group of players and a good investment after winning the Champions League," he said. "I don't think that [pressure] is something strange or something that surprises anyone.

"I have seen Chelsea's games and I must admit I would not be able to explain how they lost points because they have been the better side and have dominated games. That's why I would not have chosen to play Chelsea this weekend because I know they need to get a positive result. They will be focused and we can't catch them off guard."