Benitez would be in contention for Chelsea had the bridge not been burned

Rafa Benitez’s time at Chelsea will always be remembered with a chuckle. But had it not happened, he would be in the running for the job now.

Imagine a manager who made his sides defensively solid whilst still attacking with flare down the flanks. Imagine one who is a student of the game who just took a Championship caliber squad into not only bouncing back into the Premier League, but finishing in the top half. Would most Chelsea fans not be asking for him to take over at Chelsea?

The answer to that question is probably. The likes of Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and David Wagner have been linked to Chelsea by fans and media alike. But strangely absent is Rafa Benitez. And had that bridge not been burned, he absolutely would be in contention.

Rafa Benitez, rightfully, had an uphill battle when he took over at Chelsea. Roberto Di Matteo had been sacked after his first poor run with the club and despite winning the Champions League. Rafa Benitez once made several comments questioning Chelsea and its fans whilst Liverpool manager. It seemed to be a terrible idea all around and there was a sense from everyone (but Benitez himself) that the job would go to someone else afterwards.

In that situation, Benitez could have phoned it in. The fans did not want him and the board did not seem to want him to stay past his interim period. But Benitez still treated it as if it was the most important job in the world. He gave it his all to get a job that would never be his. On the way, Chelsea won the Europa League.

His time at Real Madrid was a disaster for many reason, but no one can say that he did not give his all there. Then, he took the surprising jump to Newcastle United. And when he could not save them, he could have easily left and gotten another big job. Instead, he made the bold decision to stay and give his all to the club. They bounced back up, finished tenth in the Premier League, and smashed Chelsea along the way.

And that is largely how Benitez’s career has always gone. At every club he has been at after Liverpool and prior to Newcastle, he has either been unwanted or second choice. Yet at every club he has been at, he has done his best to treat it like the most important job in the world. His time at Chelsea highlights that more than anything.

And had that time at Chelsea never happened, or had he never been rushed out the door for a Jose Mourinho reunion, he would have been an ideal candidate in the managerial talks around Chelsea. He ticks a great many boxes and has shown the tactical know how and the pure desire to succeed.

He would be exactly what Chelsea needs right now had they not rushed him out. Had the fans not blasted him every week for comments made nearly a decade prior. Instead, some other club could benefit from his pure desire to do everything for the club he is at.

Next: Chelsea: FA Cup final will show who really wants to be at the club

Or, as Chelsea have just seen, he can give that to Newcastle as he sees them rise back up once more. Meanwhile, Chelsea are sinking.

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