INTERIM CHELSEA MANAGER Rafael Benitez today refused to be drawn on speculation that Jose Mourinho is poised to return to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season to replace him in the dug-out.
Mourinho is expected to leave Real Madrid at the end of the current campaign and dropped a hint that he could go back to his former club after Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund last night.
The Portuguese, who won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups during his three-year stint at Chelsea, said: “I know I am loved by the clubs (in England), especially one.”
Benitez has accepted that he will leave Chelsea when his temporary contract expires at the end of the season, but he was reluctant to address rumours about the identity of his successor when questioned today.
Speaking ahead of the return leg of his side’s Europa League semi-final with Swiss side FC Basel, Benitez said: “It’s not my business. I have to concentrate on my business, which is with Basel tomorrow.”
On Mourinho’s comments, he added: “Each one has his way — my way is to concentrate on the next game, and that’s it.”
Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata also shied away from discussing the probability of Mourinho’s arrival, but he did give his backing to Benitez, who has faced protests from some of the club’s fans since he was appointed in November.
“It’s not the players’ business right now,” said the Spaniard. “We have so many important things still to come. We just have to be focused on what we’re playing for, which is a very important trophy for the club, to finish third in the league so the club can qualify for the Champions League, and that’s all I can say right now.”
He added: “It’s tricky. It doesn’t depend on me. All I can say is that we’re working really, really well with Rafa, and that’s the truth for me.”
