Juan Mata Comes Out In Support of Rafa Benitez As Chelsea Prepare For Basel Showdown

Juan Mata has mounted a passionate defence of Rafa Benitez ahead of Chelsea’s Europa League semi-final against Basel.

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The interim manager is within 90 minutes of delivering the Champions League holders’ second successive European final appearance, and his side take a 2-1 lead into tonight’s home leg.

But the build-up to the second leg has been overshadowed by Jose Mourinho’s strongest hint yet he could return to Chelsea this summer, and Benitez was forced to field persistent questions about his one-time rival at his pre-match press conference.

Asked for a player’s perspective on Mourinho’s possible return, Mata instead chose to talk up the qualities of the man still in possession of the manager’s job.

He said: “Rafa has had great seasons at every club he has been at. Since he came here, he’s tried to do his best.

“For me and the rest of the players, he’s a great manager. We are fighting for third place in the league and with a chance to win a trophy.

“So maybe the season in the end will look good for us and maybe for Rafa. And that will be because of the job he has done.

“Whether he is given more time or not doesn’t depend on me. All I can say is that we are all working really, really well with Rafa.”

David Luiz’s last-minute winner in Switzerland means Basel must score twice at Stamford Bridge to stand any chance of reaching this month’s Amsterdam final.

But Murat Yakin’s side managed just that on their last trip to London, when they left Tottenham with a 2-2 draw, and Mata is wary of the visitors’ attacking threat.

“It’s going to be a dangerous game,” he said. “Even though we have two goals away, a great result, it’s that kind of game that can be very risky.

“If we don’t go into the game thinking about winning, thinking about defending well, thinking about trying to win again, it’s going to be difficult.

“We still know we have to fight if we’re going to be in the final. We got a great result in Switzerland, but now we have to play another 90 minutes and I’m sure they’re not going to give up. They’re a team who try until the end. It will be tough, for sure.”