• Premier League

Benitez plays down Chelsea players row

ESPN staff
February 26, 2013
Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez insists he is happy with his players © Getty Images
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Rafael Benitez has played down suggestions that he verbally clashed his players on the training ground after their 2-0 defeat to Manchester City this weekend.

Several media outlets broke the story that Benitez had led a training session with his players, only to angrily reveal what he believed were the team's shortcomings before engaging in a heated row with club captain John Terry.

However, Benitez, speaking in his press conference on Tuesday, claimed that his relationship with the players was 'fantastic' and that there was no issue.

"This was a normal meeting between players and technical staff, which happens after every game, it was normal talk, nothing else. You show your disappointment, that is normal,'' he said.

"I can understand the frustrations of [John] Terry, he is an important player for us and has been injured with his knee. It was very brief exchange of ideas, and that is it, nothing else. It is just a team talk after a defeat.

"We had a meeting on the pitch with my players and technical staff, which is part of our business. Now we have to move on and start thinking about Middlesbrough [who they face in the FA Cup quarter-finals].''

When asked about his relationship with the Chelsea players, Benitez said: "It is fantastic. I have no problem.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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