Since leaving Liverpool in 2010, Benitez has not found a new club can be a sojourn in a long time. Rafa, greeting familiar, had coached Inter Milan for six months. However, in the short time, Rafa managed to provide two trophies, Club World Cup and the Italian Super Cup, the Nerazzurri.
Rafa arrival to Stamford Bridge will not last too long. He was just appointed as interim coach Chelsea replace Roberto Di Matteo who was sacked in November last year. The presence of the Spanish coach also had brought disappointment for failing to bring Chelsea escaped from the Champions League group phase. In fact, the Blues still holds the status of the defending champion. However, not Rafa name if not able to get out of difficult situations.
Criticism in the rain, Rafa brought Chelsea a step towards a new history. If able to win the Europa League, the club owned by Russian tycoon, Roman Abramovich, it could enter the elite are able to win the three most prestigious tournaments in Europe, the Champions League, Europe League and Cup Winners' Cup. So far, only three teams were able to collect three prestigious trophy. They are Ajax Amsterdam, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Chelsea could be entered as a fourth member. Therefore, the Blues have won the Cup Winners' Cup twice in 1971 and 1998 before the tournament was removed in 1999. One other requirement, the Champions League trophy, Chelsea also won last season.
Even so, Chelsea should not underestimate Benfica. However, the highest title holder Portuguese League is one of the strongest teams in Europe. Won the European competition is nothing new for Benfica. In its heyday in the 1960s, Benfica won the Champions League twice. Overall, the team nicknamed the Hawk aka Aguias it has seven times through the final highest European competitions.
Benfica also in peak performance. On the domestic league Jorge Jesus polish team topped the standings board with an unbeaten record since the start of the season. If able to win against his closest rival, FC Porto, this weekend, Benfica were handed the title to-33 in the Portuguese League arena.
Chelsea and Benfica have clashed with each other in the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. At that time, Chelsea managed to win 1-0 in the first leg at the Estadio Da Luz. The Blues return to finish the fight Benfica at Stamford Bridge in the second leg with a 2-1 victory. n adi wicaksono ed: endro yuwanto
Figures Coming Games
1 - This is the first time for Chelsea and Benfica penetrate the top party League since the competition was held in 1971.
2 - If Chelsea win, this will be the second European League trophy Rafael Benitez. Previously, Benitez had led Valencia to be champions in 2004.
6 - Collection touchdowns while Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo. If you are able to add two goals in the final, he could match nicks Libor Kozak and Edinson Cavani as a scorer.
22 - Final match at the Amsterdam Arena will be the match to Benfica in the last-22 / / knock-out / / European League, the highest above the previous record, 20 appearances held by Atletico Madrid.
33 - Eduardo Salvio will extend the record for most appearances in the Europa League if revealed in the final tomorrow. Match against Chelsea will be the 33rd game in the League stage Salvio Europe. Previously, he has appeared 20 times while still defending Atletico Madrid.
