Chelsea’s interim manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The former Liverpool boss was once again targeted by a section of his own club’s support during Chelsea’s 2-0 FA Cup fifth round victory at Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

Benitez was appointed on a short-term deal in November to replace sacked Champions League-winning boss Roberto Di Matteo but has never been popular with the Chelsea fans.

In his post-match interview after the match, Benitez defended his managerial record and asked Chelsea fans protesting against him to get behind the team.

“I have been in charge in football for 26 years. I have won the Champions League, won the FIFA Club World Cup, the FA Cup, the Italian Super Cup, the Spanish league twice, nine trophies, all the trophies you can win at club level,” the 52-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“A group of fans, they are not doing any favours for the team when they are singing and wasting time preparing banners.

“It’s because someone made a mistake. They put my title (as) ‘interim manager’, and I will leave at the end of the season, so they don’t need to waste time with me.

“They have to concentrate on supporting the team, that’s what they have to do.

“In the end, they are not doing any favours to the club, to the rest of the fans and to the players.

“Every game they continue singing and they continue preparing banners, they are wasting time. What they have to do is support the team.”

Benitez added that Chelsea would lose out on a Champions League place if the club’s supporters were not fully behind his team.

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