Benitez: Boos don't bother me

Benitez: Boos don't bother me

Published Nov. 26, 2012 6:15 a.m. ET

Rafa Benitez insists he was not bothered to be greeted to Stamford Bridge by a chorus of boos from Chelsea fans.

Benitez' first game in charge since taking over as interim manager was a drab 0-0 draw with Manchester City.

But as he emerged from the tunnel at the beginning of the game, many home fans made it clear they were not happy with his appointment, or the dismissal of his predecessor Roberto di Matteo.

Benitez though brushed off the boos, telling Sky Sports: "I am focused on the game, I don't listen to the crowd.

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"The main thing was the team on the pitch. I was not listening, I was just concentrating on the game.

"My experience in England is that when the fans are singing I don't understand what they say.

"I can understand the rivalry in the past (between Chelsea and Liverpool), but I am sure the majority of fans will understand I am a professional and I just want to do my job.

"It was a tough game against a good team, no clear chances for them or us. It's not the ideal (result) but to have a clean sheet and to see the spirit and mentality and work rate was quite positive.

"You could see they were trying really hard with and without the ball and against a great team they had some chances."

Asked what Benitez could do to win over the Chelsea fans, City boss Roberto Mancini said: "Win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win every game - only the results can help."

And Benitez agreed: "It's not a secret. It's true."

Torres

Benitez also admitted he was pleased with the display of Fernando Torres, who he restored to the starting line-up.

"Fernando was trying very hard, he had a good chance but the team has to help Fernando, all of us have to help Fernando because if we create more chances he will score goals," he said.

"You cannot expect a striker scoring all on his own and we have to create more and better chances for Fernando and all the offensive players.

"I am not trying to build a team around Fernando, I am trying to build a team around a striker, a second striker and the wingers, and Fernando is the striker at the moment so we create for him. If it is Daniel Sturridge or Victor Moses, we will do it for them.

"I am not happy if we have just one shot on-target but the main thing is you have more chances and then you are close."

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