Benitez tipped to become new Chelsea coach if Ambramovich loses patience over club's poor run

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is a strong contender to become Chelsea manager until the end of the season if owner Roman Abramovich loses patience with Andre Villas Boas following Chelsea's poor run.

Villas-Boas will find himself in a vulnerable position if Chelsea performs badly at Napoli in the Champions League.

Chelsea is ranked fifth in the Barclays Premier League and is facing a tricky FA Cup replay at Birmingham.

Abramovich had also considered Fabio Capello for the post but was told that the latter would not be interested in a short-term position.

But Villas-Boas expressed confidence that his job is safe, claiming Chelsea have changed their policy, which has seen seven different managers in less than nine years under Abramovich.

"Speculation is normal given the cultural past of this club but there's a different perspective now. There's a clear indication that there's a change in the way we approach the projects for the future," The Daily Mail quoted him, as saying.

"We have great belief in what we will do next year. That doesn't take away any responsibility for what's happening now. We can do well in the Champions League and the FA Cup. But we had a three-year project to change not only the team, but the culture and structure of the club," he added. (ANI)