Zenden will join Benitez at Chelsea

Rafael Benitez has appointed Boudewijn Zenden as his assistant manager at Chelsea, according to the Dutchman's father and agent.

Benitez was named interim boss until the end of the season last night and has now begun the challenge of winning round his new club's players and fans, something that could be helped by adding a former Blues star to his coaching staff.

Pierre Zenden told Voetbal International his son was on his way to Chelsea. "He was approached on Wednesday by Benitez. I assume he will finish the season, just like Benitez."

Zenden junior, 36, played for Chelsea between 2001 and 2004 before joining Benitez's Liverpool. He has never before held a coaching role.

Blues fans were still in shock this morning after owner Roman Abramovich completed arguably his most controversial day yet at Stamford Bridge by appointing Benitez to succeed Roberto Di Matteo.

The Russian handed the former Liverpool boss a contract until the end of the season, having seemingly been unable to woo the man said to be his number one target.

Confirming new "interim" boss Benitez would meet Chelsea's players today, the European champions said in a statement: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm Rafael Benitez has been appointed interim first-team manager until the end of the season.

"The owner and the board believe that, in Benitez, we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives."

The length of Benitez's contract appeared the clearest indication yet of Abramovich's determination to land Pep Guardiola once the former Barcelona boss completes his one-year sabbatical.

Benitez's appointment has not been generally well received by Chelsea supporters on social media.

But all that failed to deter Benitez, who agreed his Chelsea contract during a trip to Abu Dhabi and will look to convince them or another big club to give him a longer-term deal.

Benitez's appeal to Abramovich could be due to his relationship with £50million flop Fernando Torres, who he helped make one of the best strikers in the world at Liverpool.

Benitez told Sport360 shortly before his appointment: "I think you can see in (Torres') face that he is almost trying too hard.

"But I think the potential is still there.

"The problem with some players is that they are doing so well in a team and the understanding is so good that it is difficult to replicate that in another team.

"Sometimes, it is a question of time, but he is a good player, is keen to learn and is a good professional."

Di Matteo finally lost patience with Torres in his last match in charge but he expressed few regrets about his unparalleled eight-month tenure last night.

"It was an honour for me to be appointed manager of a club that I loved playing for and one that is so close to my heart," he said in a statement issued by the League Managers Association.

"I am extremely proud of the successes and trophies that we were able to bring to the club in recent months.

"Lifting Chelsea's first Champions League trophy, in Munich, was the best achievement in club history and without doubt the highlight of my career to date, both as a player and manager. It is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.

"I have a deep and unreserved passion for Chelsea Football Club and I would like to sincerely thank all of the staff, my players and of course the Chelsea fans, for their tremendous and unconditioned support in the intense time I have been the manager at the Bridge.

"I wish all of them every success for the rest of the season and beyond."

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Zenden will join Benitez at Chelsea

Dengan url

http://olahragaenjoy.blogspot.com/2012/11/zenden-will-join-benitez-at-chelsea.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Zenden will join Benitez at Chelsea

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Zenden will join Benitez at Chelsea

sebagai sumbernya

Olahraga Enjoy