Benitez was given just three days to pick the European champions up from Tuesday’s fateful defeat at Juventus ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City.But the former Liverpool boss, controversially appointed interim Blues manager on Wednesday night, declared he had already spotted flaws that might explain Chelsea’s recent slump during his first training session at their Cobham headquarters yesterday.And the 52-year-old had no qualms discussing them with his new players, whose confidence has been dented by a run of only two wins in eight matches that saw them slip from first to third in the league and to the brink of crashing out of the Champions League.Benitez said: 'We didn’t talk about the Champions League or the next game but about little things I saw and we could improve a bit, and things they were doing well, which Roberto Di Matteo was doing.All the talk at Benitez’s unveiling yesterday was about his relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich - who he met for the first time over dinner last night - and the club’s fans.But the Spaniard must also win over a squad who appeared fully behind Di Matteo, the man who somehow managed to inspire them to Champions League and FA Cup glory in the wake of the Andre Villas-Boas regime before being unceremoniously sacked on Wednesday morning.
Benitez said: 'I’m sure they will be pleased like they were with Di Matteo who, by the way, was doing a great job.Chelsea started the season like champions-elect but injuries, suspensions, a lack of tactical flexibility and off-field scandals have cast doubt on the overall strength of the squad.Benitez said: 'It’s a good squad, a good team. If I’m here, it’s because I think we can win with them.If we can improve by training hard, we will.Benitez revealed he would look to Chelsea’s big-name players to help him get their season back on track.In a top side, normally, there will be some important players, some who have more influence,' he said. 'I spoke with Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Fernando.With a contract only until the end of the season - fuelling speculation he is only keeping the manager’s seat warm for Pep Guardiola.Benitez is unlikely to have much influence on transfers in January.The Spaniard appeared to accept he would not enjoy the same control as he did during his six years at Liverpool.
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