Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has stood by his team selection for the 2-1 defeat at Southampton yesterday as he prepares for Monday’s clash with Manchester United.
The FA Cup quarter-final replay against United comes less than 48 hours after the Barclays Premier League loss against the Saints.
Benitez made seven changes for the trip to St Mary’s, no doubt with an eye on Monday’s clash with Alex Ferguson’s side in mind. The gamble backfired as goals from Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert earned Southampton the victory, with returning skipper John Terry briefly levelling the scoreline in the first half.
But Benitez reckons the longevity of a Premier League season compared to the cut-and-thrust nature of knockout football means he had to shuffle his pack.
“You have to make decisions and use the squad,” he said. “Southampton is a good team on one level and Manchester United is another team on another level.
“In the league, you have more games to play and will be going to the end. In the FA Cup you have one game and you will be out. You have to find the balance for players who are playing more games or less games.”
The defeat means Chelsea dropped below London rivals Tottenham into fourth place in the table but with five games in a two-week period — including both legs of a Europa League quarter-final with Rubin Kazan — Benitez feels his side are still in the hunt for both a top-four finish and silverware.
“I have confidence that we will finish in the top four and maybe we can win one or two trophies,” he added. “I have the belief and the confidence in these players because they have the quality and if they realise that we have to start games with the same intensity as the second half (against Southampton), we can beat anyone.”
Chelsea have already played 54 games this season and the Blues’ players are no strangers to the rigours of playing midweek games off the back of league fixtures. But Benitez feels the proximity of the FA Cup replay against United — with the winners to face Manchester City in a Wembley semi-final — makes for difficult preparation.
“This one is so close,” he said. “48 hours, less than 48 hours, you have to make decisions. If you have three days, four days you can manage in a different way. But two days between games is not easy. It (the performance against United) has to be good. Everybody knows this is a massive game against a very good side in a massive competition. It has to be positive for the players.”
Chelsea were without Juan Mata for the defeat at Southampton with the 24-year-old missing through illness. Mata has struck 18 goals in all competitions this season and is likely to return to face United. Gary Cahill, who is carrying a knee injury, is not expected to be fit in time.
