Source: team_talk
Benitez: Blues are stronger now
Rafael Benitez is confident he will leave behind a Chelsea team capable of winning trophies when he exits as interim manager.
The Spaniard sends out his side in the FA Cup semi final against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday knowing they are in touching distance of a cup double which would cement his reputation as one of football's most successful managers.
Chelsea also take on Swiss champions Basle later this month for a place in the Europa Cup final while currently they also occupy third place in the Barclays Premier League.
Benitez, who took over at Stamford Bridge in November, believes his time in charge has already helped Chelsea close the gap on Manchester United.
Benitez said: "I'm sure I will leave some good players with more experience.
"I cannot take credit for signing these players because they were already here, some of them very good players, but some of them are young and they'll be much better at the end of the season.
"The balance of the team is better now. The players are quite happy, quite pleased with the way we train and the things we do and they are learning every day.
"I'm sure next year these players will be much better. They'll have more experience, will have settled down in England. They've been growing, improving and learning. Next year, add two or three players, the team will be better.
"It's a very good team but experience has cost us points in some games and maybe some trophies. If you sign two or three, they can challenge.
"This team finished sixth last year, 20 points or whatever behind two teams. This year they will finish behind United, maybe far away, but closer to City. Next year, bring some new players in, they'll be closer."
Benitez, who has suffered constant criticism from sections of the Stamford Bridge faithful, has already confirmed he will be leaving at the end of the season after just seven months in charge.
He believes football managers should get used to even shorter reigns in the future and cannot envisage another Premier League boss enjoying the longevity of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Ferguson took charge at United in 1986 and Benitez said: "Football has changed. In other countries, maybe it's more normal to have managers for a short time.
"In England people talk about doing your job for three years and a work in progress. But it's not the case now. Look at the number of managers fired in England."
On Ferguson's reign, in particular, he said: "It's something we won't see any more, especially in England. I don't think you'll see that again.
"Everything is going faster in life. If I say something now, someone will tweet it and it'll be already out. We don't try to analyse the big picture.
"We went to Moscow, came back at 3.30am, gave a press conference. Before you had rest. There's more pressure now, more anxiety, it's more demanding."
Benitez, who began his footballing education at Real Madrid, is teetotal and admits his family, who still live in the family home in Liverpool, help him to deal with the pressure.
"I've never drunk," he said. "My life's been in sport all the time. The way I cope with the pressure is trying to focus on the next challenge.
"I enjoy trying to do my best every time. You can win a game 5-0 but you're still not happy because you want something more. That's my nature.
"At the Real Madrid academy, finishing second was a disaster. If you have too much pressure, you go with your friends and family and relax a bit."
