Benítez could help end Chelsea’s misery if Villas-Boas gets the chop

Benítez could do a great job if Villas-Boas goes

If the recent reports are to be believed, Rafael Benítez could soon be lining up in the Chelsea dugout at Stamford Bridge – and it would be a great appointment.

Let’s not get away from the fact that Andre Villas-Boas deserves more time at the helm and that it wouldn’t be fair to cut him loose this soon into his reign.

But we all know that Roman Abramovich has an itchy trigger finger when it comes to pulling the plug on his managers.

The Blues haven’t won for five games and with the pressure building all the time over the 34-year-old’s head, it seems grimly inevitable that the Portugese upstart could be out on his ear imminently.

And who better than Benítez to come in and tidy up?

Although Chelsea supporters may still bristle at the mention of his name after Liverpool’s Champions League successes against them, they have to admit that, if nothing else, he might be able to sort out their leaky defence.

Watching Chelsea defend against Napoli in midweek was, quite frankly, an embarrassment to behold – and if there’s one thing Benítez’s sides are it’s watertight.

Tactically, there are few to match the Spaniard, and if he could teach David Luiz how to defend sensibly and maybe realise that Branislav Ivanović is best at centre-half then that might help sort things out.

And up front, if there’s one man who would welcome the appointment of the former Valencia boss it has to be Fernando Torres.

El Niño has never been better than under Benítez at Liverpool – and if he can rediscover that form then Chelsea might still have a shout at Champions League qualification yet.

Tevez’s long-awaited return is ill-timed

So Carlos Tevez has apologised for his behaviour – it only took the Argentine the best part of five months to do the right thing.

Better late than never so the saying goes, but the re-introduction of Tevez to the first steam squad is bound to create an unnecessary distraction for a Manchester City team that should be focusing on the Premier League title run-in and nothing else.

In the immediate aftermath of Tevez’s refusal to leave the bench against Bayern Munich, Roberto Mancini said the Argentine was finished at the club.

And quite right too, City seem to be a squad of egos that are constantly on the verge of a major meltdown and Tevez isn’t exactly a calming influence in the dressing room.

Mancini has got three fantastic strikers in Sergio Agüero, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli plus a fourth on loan at Feyenoord in John Guidetti who cannot stop scoring goals. The City boss shouldn’t go back on his word and let Tevez back in the side.

For more reaction and comment, visit Sharethematch.com – Football’s Social Network. Available now for FREE online or at the App Store.