Earning the haters' respect! - A Rafa story.

It could be too short by days to call it an era, but the length of it by number of games surely made it feel otherwise. Rafael Benitez was appointed Chelsea manager on 22nd November 2012, after Roberto Di Matteo was relieved of his duties the previous day. It wasn't even quite a good first day to Rafa, with RAFAOUT banners outside the Bridge and #RafaOut trending twitter wide. Have to admit I was one among them, with jeering every time a line-up was put up or when we conceded. These actions were pretty much justified by some comments he had made on Chelsea and its fans during his Liverpool tenure.

Warm welcome! (NOT)

The previous game for Chelsea was the Juventus away, which was the last game for Matteo. That game was a tactical blunder, playing 5 defenders and Moses as false 9, losing out 3-0. This was the time we were losing out on the table top position and dropping out of the Champions League and needed fresh tactics to bolster our attack. Let's analyse a few key games in the period:

CHELSEA 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY:

The first game against Manchester City went well to a 0-0, except for the fact that we were unable to score after creating quite a few more chances. Boos and chants echoed around the Bridge against Rafa when Hazard, the best player on pitch till then was subbed off for Moses at minute 71'. After the game Rafa had one of his usual pressers saying "We weren't clinical in the final 3rd.". Not a bad start.

WESTHAM 3-1 CHELSEA:

Things went downhill for us at West Ham after drawing 0-0 with Fulham, taking the lead early as usual with a Juan Mata goal, we started the second half complacently, conceded early and couldn't work out a Plan B. Again the best players on the pitch were subbed of to no effect but conceding two goals in the late minutes. The line-up was a rotated one and that's what was to blame. Our position on table dropped to 3rd with a larger margin. 

CHELSEA 6-1 NORDSJæLLAND

Our first win for Rafa came at the Bridge with a goal rout against Nordjaelland. Thought not a good start to the game with penalties missed on both ends, David Luiz opened scoring from the spot kick and we built on the momentum with a Torres brace controlling the game completely. This game saw one of the best performances of Oriol Romeu for Chelsea being in control of the midfield. Though not something to brag about, the win was necessary to fight for CL knockout stage qualification. Something was starting to build.

CORINTHIANS 1-0 CHELSEA

The most dreaded of the losses of this season, losing out on the final of the tournament to call ourselves Champions of the World. Yet again, squad rotation took its toll, with Moses being in the line-up and having his worst game in a Blue shirt. So many chances let go cheaply, Cahill sent off in the dying minutes, Torres missing a sitter to draw level. This game is one to forget. Disappointment at the trophy loss.

CHELSEA 8-0 ASTON VILLA

That's how we comeback, because we are the Chelsea FC! Bemoaning the loss at the CWC, we were back with a bang thrashing Leeds 5-1 in the FA cup and Aston Villa 8-0 in the PL. This game saw David Luiz with his remarkable performances at DMF solving our pivot worries. We broke down Villa's game completely scoring at every break and scoring goals in a 'each one take one' way. The beast of Eden Hazard had settled well, and our days were just beginning, with the title race was slipping out of hand.

RAMPAGE!

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-2 CHELSEA

This was the game I saw the tactical genius in Rafa the Liverpool fans talk about, at Chelsea. The starting XI was much to the despise of all the fans with Hazard dropping out for rest, Moses-Mata-Oscar behind Ba and weak Lampard-Ramires pivot. As always, the game went haywire in the first 15 minutes with us going 2-0 down. Then we managed to gather up the defence and hold on to the same score until half time. There were no subs at half time to no surprise from Rafa. As the things went no better, Rafa made 2 substitutions at his earliest of unforced ones. Eden Hazard and Mikel came on for Moses and Lampard. The jeering increased as Lampard was taken off much to the disappointment of himself. And then the game changed, Hazard ripped the United defence along the Rafael flank and brought us back in the game with a beauty of a curler from outside D-box. Then Ramires levelled for Chelsea, and Chelsea couldn't snatch the winner by a Mata goal owing to a brilliant save from De Gea. The actual reason behind the turn around was the Mikel sub rather than the Hazard one. Until then our midfield was being ripped from the middle with both Ramires and Lampard in a attacking mindset. Mikel held the back with the defensive four while Hazard caused destruction in the front. Credits to Rafa on that. 

EDEN HAZAAAAAAAAAAARD!

CHELSEA 2-1 BENFICA

After the 1-0 win against Manchester United which was such a game fully controlled by us from minute one. I havent seen a game with them like this since the Mourinho era. Tactical brilliance and vigor from an eternal rivalry with the opponents from Rafa kept the United attack at bay and a goal from Mata got the much required win. Then the fans gave a standing ovation to Rafa as he walked out. The man earned the respect. 

There is only JUAN Mata!

After the 2-1 at Aston Villa, where Frank Lampard broke Chelsea's top scorer record we had the big game up, the Europa League final. This game ended a milestone for us, the players and Rafa. Finally, a trophy! Taking the lead with a goal from a Fernando 'I always score in the final' Torres goal, we gave the lead up to a penalty as usual in the Europa League. Ivanovic brought home the glory in the last minutes of the game by a header from a Mata corner. It was later revealed the corner was practiced tactically knowing Benfica and their GK's weaknesses from insights from David Luiz and other ways. Mata said, "Rafa told us we had to aim to the far post, because it was Artur's weakest place. I just tried to put the ball there and Ivanovic did the rest." David Luiz had his share of praise "He changed some of our positions in the second half. That's why we played better and won the title. He spoke a lot to us to change the intensity." Cheers were then for Rafa as it was Mission accomplished with Champions league qualification and a European trophy win. 

Deserved to lift it

There.. To here..

Rafa Benitez leaves the club as promised, completing the main objectives given to him. The tenure could've been better with a CWC or FA cup or both wins but it was not the worst nevertheless. He helped us sail through the dreaded fixture conjestion towards season end where we had to play about one game every three days. I have nothing but respect for him now.

First half of the tenure rating: 6/10

Second half of the tenure rating: 8.5/10

Players who benefited most from the Rafa era: 

1. Fernando Torres - Found his scoring form to an extent. Performed well in European games. 22 goals. Decent season.

2. David Luiz - Rotated between DMF and defence. Adapted well to pivot role. Increased attacking contribution. Improved free kick taking.

3. Cesar Azpilicueta - Replaced Ivanovic in the RB role. Improved forward runs/crossing. Best in tracking back.

4. Yossi Benayoun - He got to play.

Players who benefited least from the Rafa era:

1. Marko Marin - Dint get any playing time owing to the rotation policy followed.

2. Victor Moses - Forced to change his style of play from dribbling to passing which did not work well for him.

Congratulations to Rafa on landing the Napoli job, we thank you for everything and wish you good luck in the Serie A. (Dear UEFA, now dont draw Napoli and Chelsea in the same group). 

Thank you Rafa!

-Darsan