By MARK IRWIN
RAFA BENITEZ has stunned Chelsea fans by insisting their team is BETTER now than when he took over in November.
And he reckons no one has improved more under him than Stamford Bridge legend Frank Lampard who, like his interim boss, is out of contract at the end of the season.
Benitez has the worst win ratio of any Blues manager during the Roman Abramovich era and has already suffered eight defeats in just over four months in charge.
Yet despite his team trailing leaders Manchester United by 22 POINTS, the Spaniard said: “A lot of the players are growing and improving all the time.
“Victor Moses, Cesar Azpilicueta, Ryan Bertrand and David Luiz, who was criticised at the beginning, have all improved.
“Juan Mata is scoring, Oscar is growing and even Fernando Torres was doing well at the beginning and getting goals, although he’s not scoring now.
“Another player who is improving a lot is Frank. He was scoring at the start of the season but he’s scoring even more now.”
Benitez, 52, is eager to stay near his Merseyside home next season.
He added: “I have a top side now and I’d like to stay with one next season. In England? Why not?”
