Red shadow still hangs over Benitez

Wherever Rafael Benitez goes he cannot escape the history achieved at Liverpool — not even ahead of Chelsea’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Rubin Kazan in Moscow today.

Benitez was an unpopular appointment at Stamford Bridge due to his prior association with Liverpool — a side he led to the Champions League title in 2005 after a controversial semi-final defeat of the Blues.

In a bid to quell the discontent emanating from the stands, Benitez in February called for them to back the team and confirmed he would be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season.