By MARK IRWIN
CHELSEA are demanding Rafa Benitez seals a top-four finish in the Premier league.
Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay last night rapped: “Make no mistake, our priority lies with a Champions League spot. We can still win the Europa League and the FA Cup. But it was the club’s plan to have Benitez as interim manager with the aim of a Champions League position at the end of the season.”
Chelsea fly to Bucharest today ahead of their Euro clash with Steaua. And Gourlay, in Bangkok to announce Chelsea’s summer tour to the Far East, refused to discuss if the club will offer Frank Lampard a new contract.
Fans’ favourite Lamps, 34, has just three months left on his deal and the club have still not ruled out making a last-gasp offer to keep him at the club next season.
But Gourlay added: “Conversations between the club and the players must remain confidential at all times. That is as much as I can say.”
But Gourlay did confirm the club plan to sign two or three new players in the summer — even though they have yet to identify who their manager will be.
He said: “We will continue to strengthen the team and I am expecting the introduction of two or three new players.”
