The Blues owner regrets employing the ex-Liverpool boss as interim manager after being advised by technical director Michael Emenalo, who pushed hard for the Spaniard to be appointed.
Billionaire Abramovich had misgivings about the suitability of Benitez, who is hugely unpopular with Blues fans from his time on charge of Liverpool, but he was won over by Emenalo.
His plan was to appoint former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola in the summer.
But Guardiola’s snub this week in favour of joining German giants Bayern Munich has left Chelsea and Abramovich with egg on their face.
The move for Benitez has backfired with inconsistent Chelsea’s hit-and-miss form this season.
A return for Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge is now looking more and more likely this summer, with Borussia Dortmund’s highly-rated boss Jurgen Klopp seemingly his closest rival.
Swansea’s Michael Laudrup and Argentine Diego Simeone have also been touted as possible new managers, but they are not believed to be serious contenders.
Billionaire Abramovich had misgivings about the suitability of Benitez, who is hugely unpopular with Blues fans from his time on charge of Liverpool, but he was won over by Emenalo.
His plan was to appoint former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola in the summer.
But Guardiola’s snub this week in favour of joining German giants Bayern Munich has left Chelsea and Abramovich with egg on their face.
The move for Benitez has backfired with inconsistent Chelsea’s hit-and-miss form this season.
A return for Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge is now looking more and more likely this summer, with Borussia Dortmund’s highly-rated boss Jurgen Klopp seemingly his closest rival.
Swansea’s Michael Laudrup and Argentine Diego Simeone have also been touted as possible new managers, but they are not believed to be serious contenders.
