By MARK IRWIN
RAFA BENITEZ is a dead man walking at Chelsea following the humiliating home defeat by Swansea.
The interim boss will NOT be sacked by Roman Abramovich before his deal expires at the end of the season.
But the Spaniard now accepts he has no chance of landing the job permanently — as the club step up their bid to lure Pep Guardiola.
Benitez was subjected to a tirade of abuse from angry Blues fans as his team were beaten 2-0 in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final.
But it was the hostile reception given to chairman Bruce Buck before Wednesday’s match which has convinced the Chelsea hierarchy that there can be no question of handing the job full-time to Benitez.
Reports of the furious fan reaction have reached owner Abramovich at his home on the Caribbean island of St Barts, where he has been hosting his traditional New Year’s party.
And they have convinced the billionaire Russian that the only solution is to appoint Guardiola. To that end, Abramovich is ready to make the ex-Barcelona coach the highest paid manager ever on a £300,000-a-week deal.
Yet there is a growing fear within Stamford Bridge Guardiola, 41, could still snub Chelsea due to the constant instability surrounding the club.
Guardiola confirmed this week he will return to football next season after a year out to recharge his batteries.
But he can take his pick from the world’s top clubs and even Chelsea’s £15million-a-year offer may not convince him to move to London.
It was only seven weeks ago that Abramovich made Benitez interim boss after sacking Roberto Di Matteo.
But angry Chelsea fans have made it clear they will never accept the ex- Liverpool coach at Stamford Bridge.
And Wednesday’s defeat by Swansea following last week’s shock home loss to QPR has sealed Rafa’s fate.
But bullish Blues defender Gary Cahill refuses to give up on reaching Wembley. He said: “It’s never over.
“We showed that in the Champions League last season when we were 4-1 down against Napoli but turned it round. This team can do it.”
