Blues must be more ruthless, insists Benitez
CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez has warned his squad they must improve their mentality and take their chances or risk losing the Club World Cup final against Corinthians of Brazil on Sunday.
The jet-lagged Blues defeated Mexican side Monterrey 3-1 yesterday thanks to a smart Juan Mata finish, a deflected Fernando Torres effort and Darvin Chavez’s own goal.
However Benitez was frustrated his side failed to keep a clean sheet and wasted several clear chances, fearing a repeat could cost the European champions in the final.
“I’m not very happy with the goal we conceded. We won but still these little things can make a difference in a final, for example,” said Benitez. “When I talk about a winning mentality, I talk about little details making the difference, you have to take your chances.
“The team has to think about winning, winning in style and not conceding because the goalkeeper likes clean sheets. They have to keep their concentration right to the end of the 90 minutes.”
Striker Torres has scored in three successive matches for the first time at the club, which has coincided with three wins in a row for Benitez’s side.
“He’s a bit sharper, has more confidence and the team’s playing well,” added Benitez. “It’s a run, and that’s good for him and good for us. We haven’t done too much differently. We’ve analysed his movement and fitness, but it’s not been a massive difference.”
Benitez won the tournament in 2010 with Inter Milan but is taking nothing for granted in a final Chelsea are expected to win.
“You can never be confident when you play a final, anything can happen,” said Benitez. “We have a good team and some experience, but we need to win against any team.”