Time for The Shed to lay off Benitez

Principles are wonderful things, and you have to admire Chelsea fans for sticking to theirs as they continue to chant Roberto Di Matteo’s name and make Rafa Benitez feel unwelcome in west London; but after their team won so impressively and so convincingly against Aston Villa maybe this is the time to bend them just a little.

Benitez may never be considered popular in the Shed or be loved in the Matthew Harding End where he is still seen as a symbol of Liverpool and of the intense rivalry that existed between the two clubs in the past; but how much evidence does anyone need that the Spaniard is now having a seriously positive effect on his current side and deserves at the very least a chance to work in peace?

There is no doubting that Roberto Di Matteo was harshly treated by owner Roman Abramovich in the way he was sacked just months after winning the Champions League; but pragmatism plays such an important part in modern football that even the highly principled have to learn to bite their lip from time to time.

So will Chelsea supporters do just that as the hectic Christmas schedule approaches? If any are considering such a sacrifice then it’s worth looking at the evidence based on yesterday’s performance in which Chelsea demolished a very poor Aston Villa side without even moving out of second gear and also taking into consideration a 5-1 Capital One Cup victory over Leeds in midweek, which could have been a real banana skin for Benitez given his lack of popularity at the Bridge.

What both performances tell you is that Chelsea players are willing to work for their new interim manager and believe in his tactics — particularly at Elland Road where it was always going to be physical and intimidating and where the Blues even went 1-0 down before fighting back.

Against Villa it was far easier; Paul Lambert’s side, who had beaten Liverpool at Anfield 3-1 only last weekend, were so woeful that Chelsea fans were singing, “You should have gone Christmas shopping”, long before the end, with key men Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres already off the pitch.

But even so it’s worth noting some important tactical changes that have transformed Chelsea into a side that is not only dangerous in attack but now assured at the back and stronger in midfield than they ever looked under Di Matteo.

Here then are Benitez’s contributions so far:

1.Turning Fernando Torres back into a goalscorer

Some big-name managers have tried to do it — from Carlo Ancelotti to Andre Villas-Boas — but Benitez has discovered the key to revitalising Chelsea’s £50m striker. Torres’s goal — a well-taken header — was his 14th of the season, including seven in the last six games. When you remember the Spaniard scored only once under Ancelotti in four months and only four times under AVB it puts that achievement into perspective.

2. Getting the best out of Eden Hazard

The Belgian started the season well under Di Matteo but saw his form shrivel away after that; perhaps due to the growing tension around him. But in recent weeks he has started to express himself again, given more freedom by a change in shape in midfield. He was excellent against Villa and scored an excellent goal.

3. Turning David Luiz into a midfielder

What genius this is — take a skilful but mistake-ridden centre-half and play him instead in the centre of midfield and groom him as Chelsea’s answer to Xabi Alonso. So far the signs are good that Luiz could fit the bill.

4. Solving the problems in defence

Before Benitez arrived Chelsea hadn’t kept a clean sheet in the league between September and November; but his first two matches in charge ended 0-0 and since then he has been able to add goals at the other end too — 26 of them in all as Chelsea have responded to his methods.

5. Strengthening the diamond in midfield

Di Matteo’s plans to use Oscar, Hazard and Mata all together in midfield were laudable but there is no doubt it left Chelsea in danger of being bullied in bigger games; and it also left them short of width. Under Benitez, Victor Moses has added width and it’s two out of three at any one time for the smaller guys; and, most importantly, his tactics seem to work.

What Chelsea fans need to do now is think where this team can go if there is harmony off the pitch as well as on it; because Chelsea are now through to the Capital One Cup semi-finals and back up to third in the Premier League.

Doesn’t Rafa deserve a break?