Rafa Benitez has dropped his biggest hint yet that he would like to take the Chelsea manager's job on a permanent basis.

The Spaniard's appointment until the end of the season was deeply unpopular with large sections of the club's fans, with the mood not helped by their exit from the Capital One Cup at the hands of Swansea in midweek.

But Benitez remains keen to make his mark at Stamford Bridge and insisted they are moving in the right direction.

"If you analyse all the managers, how many had pre-season here? Not me. How many managers have spent massive money here? Not me," he said.

"I like to be at a top side and Chelsea is a top side with great potential. So I think it's a great opportunity."
Rafa BenitezQuotes of the week

"How many managers have played in Japan in the middle of the season with some players injured and they had players in the Africa Cup of Nations? It is just me.

"My conclusion is the reality is that if you put everything together and you will see why we are happy in the way we are doing things and the way the team is progressing."Daily Fotball News