Rafa fears taking more flak if Blues go through

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has issued another veiled attack on his critics on the eve of the Europa League clash with Steaua Bucharest, saying they would blame him for fixture congestion if Chelsea progress.

Last season’s Champions League winners bid to keep their European adventure alive by overturning a 1-0 deficit in their clash with the Romanian league leaders at Stamford Bridge.

Progress for the Blues, coupled with the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Manchester United on April 1, would result in a fixture headache, especially given the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final would be three days later.