Benitez expects Mourinho back to Chelsea

Rafael Benitez said on Tuesday he expected to be replaced as Chelsea coach by the club's former manager, Jose Mourinho.

Interim Chelsea manager Benitez reiterated he would be leaving Stamford Bridge as planned at the end of the season, having signed a short-term contract in November following the sacking of Roberto di Matteo.

Real Madrid coach Mourinho, who left the London club in September 2007 after three years in charge, has been strongly linked with a return to his former side.

That could change following Alex Ferguson's surprise retirement from Manchester United on Wednesday. Mourinho is one of the top names already linked with the United job.

"The next year there will be another manager," said Benitez.

"I think everybody knows who will be here," the Spaniard said, in a clear reference to Portuguese manager Mourinho.

However, Benitez would not be drawn into referring to Mourinho directly by name and insisted the speculation about the identity of his successor would not distract him from the task at hand.

"I will concentrate on my job now. I have to concentrate on my job. It's not my concern now," he said.

For all he has done in guiding Chelsea into next week's Europa League final against Benfica, Benitez has never been accepted by the Blues faithful on account of his prolonged war of words with the Londoners in general, and Mourinho in particular, when he was in charge of Liverpool.

However, he is on the brink of securing a return to the Champions League for Chelsea, as victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday's London derby would see the third-placed Blues move six points clear of Spurs with two games of the season left and a far better goal difference.

As to his own future, Benitez - who has been linked with German club Schalke - said: "My future is Tottenham. After, we will see. At the moment, I'm just thinking about Tottenham and what we could do.

"I have to keep doing my job, that is trying to prepare the team properly for every game and the agents, they have to do their jobs."

There will be another Portuguese former Chelsea manager opposite Benitez on Wednesday in Tottenham coach Andre Villas-Boas, who was sacked by the Blues last season amid reports he had fallen out with senior players such as captain John Terry.

"I think he's a good manager. He's working hard for his new team," Benitez said, before turning his attention back to Chelsea.

(China Daily 05/09/2013 page24)