Spaniard could end his ill-fated Blues spell with a trophy on Wednesday.
‘Interim’ Chelsea head coach Rafa Benitez could be set for an immediate return to management with high-flying Serie A outfit Napoli after his brief spell with the Blues comes to an end at the climax to this season, according to reports in the Daily Express.
Benitez, 53, only arrived in west London last November to replace the sacked Roberto Di Matteo in the Stamford Bridge dug-out.
However, despite guiding the Blues to both a top-four finish in the Premier League this campaign, and with it entry into next season’s Uefa Champions League, and a place in Wednesday night’s Uefa Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam, the Spaniard is not expected to still be at the Bridge beyond the summer.
And, waiting to offer the former Valencia, Liverpool and Inter Milan trainer an immediate escape route from the English capital next season are Napoli, who are currently riding high in second place in Serie A.
“There are two options for me,” said Benitez about his future after Chelsea. “One is a top side where you can go straight in and compete for trophies. Or maybe a project. It depends on the project. You have to analyse carefully.
“It is my priority to stay in England but maybe I will have to look abroad and see if a top side is available in another country. It’s part of the thing that I have to do now.”
Benitez has won 26 of his 46 games in charge of Chelsea to date, giving him an overall win percentage of 57.
COMMENTS