Benitez in apparent dig at Mourinho

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Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez has offered a thinly-veiled retort to Jose Mourinho’s hint that he wants to return as manager at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho said on Tuesday he might leave Real Madrid in the summer, claiming many in the Spanish media hate him.

He seemed to indicate he would be ready to return to Chelsea, adding: “I know in England I am loved by some clubs, especially one.”

Benitez, who has already confirmed he will be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, played a straight bat to questions about Mourinho’s remarks ahead of Chelsea’s Europa League semi-final second leg with Basel.

But when asked if the Portuguese’s comments broke an unwritten rule that managers do not speculate on other people’s jobs, Benitez smiled and added: “He has his way – my way is to concentrate on the next game and that’s it.”

Benitez also refused to comment when asked if he would be interested in taking over at Real should Mourinho move on.

Mourinho, who left Chelsea in September 2007, remains the Blues’ most successful manager, with two Premier League titles and three domestic cup triumphs.

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