By MARK IRWIN
RAFA BENITEZ defiantly told angry Chelsea fans: Roman Abramovich won’t sack me.
The Blues’ interim boss suffered another torrent of abuse yesterday — this time on Chelsea’s OFFICIAL website — hours after his explosive rant at the club and its supporters.
Furious Blues fans are threatening to make the Spaniard’s life hell at tomorrow’s home clash with West Brom.
The club are already making plans for extra stewards around the Stamford Bridge technical area and players’ tunnel.
But Benitez declared: “My relationship with the people at the club is really good.
“My relationship with club owner Roman Abramovich is very good.
“When I meet with him we talk about football, we talk like normal people and share our passion for football.”
Asked whether he thought he might be sacked following his incredible outburst after Chelsea’s FA Cup win at Middlesbrough, Benitez insisted: “No. They know how we work and what we are trying to do.”
In an interview to be screened on BBC’s Football Focus programme tomorrow, he added: “The players are really happy in what we are trying to do.
“The atmosphere in the club is really good. There are no issues in the team.”
However, Benitez is steeling himself for 90 minutes of abuse tomorrow after accusing fans of damaging the image of the club and their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
He was slaughtered by fans on the ‘chat’ section of the European champions’ official website yesterday.
One wrote: “What manager boasts a Club World Cup? A desperate, useless one.”
Another added: “The more one reflects on Benitez’s criticism of those that travelled that distance, the more bewildering it becomes that he is still there.”
Benitez also infuriated club executives by claiming they made a “massive mistake” when giving him the title of interim manager.
The Spaniard met chief executive Ron Gourlay and technical director Michael Emenalo after training yesterday.
And it has been made clear they will not tolerate any further criticism of the board members who appointed him.
A Sun online poll yesterday revealed 55 per cent do not think Benitez should be sacked.
