Rafa Benitez has reflected on the transition he believes Chelsea are undergoing and his current standing among the supporters.
The Blues have enjoyed a recent up-turn in results and for their Coach, who has faced protests from club supporters for his appointment, things are not as bad as has been painted in the media.
“I spend most of my time here at the Cobham Training Centre and almost never go into London,” the Spaniard told Marca in an interview published today.
“And I have to say this – people are very civil to me out on the streets. Many Blues fans stop me and tell me to keep on plugging away and not to listen to the critics.
“I have a lot more day-to-day support than is shown, and people think.”
Chelsea are enduring a heavy run of fixtures at the moment, which include League, Cup and European commitments.
“We are doing a great job. People only look at the results, but you have to analyse when and how we get there, and look at the overcrowded fixture programme.
“With three matches a week, it's impossible to have an ideal physical, tactical and strategic training system. We have already played 63 official games this season, nine a month.
“We are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and third in the Premier League. Meeting our objectives.
“We do have a squad which is a bit thin in some areas. People still think that this is the Chelsea of Drogba, Essien or Lampard at its finest.
“But now it is a side in transition, with Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Marin and Moses. They are young players who have to adapt.
“We are moving away from a physical side like the old one to a team which is much more technical.”
