AS.com

Roberto Di Matteo's dismissal as coach of Chelsea and rumours of his possible replacement have provoked an immediate reaction from supporters of the Champions League holders, with leading figures urging the club to reject one of the main candidates for the empty vacancy, none other than Spaniard Rafa Benitez.

Barely minutes after it had been announced that Di Matteo had been sacked, the chair of the Chelsea Supporters Group, Trizia Fiorellina, told the BBC of her concerns about the former Liverpool, Valencia and Inter Milan coach.

"(Rafael) Benitez will just not be accepted by Chelsea supporters, neither will Avram Grant or Harry Redknapp," she said.

"I simply don't think Benitez is a good manager. He's been out of work for two years now, if he was any good why hasn't any club snapped him up?"

It is not the first time Chelsea supporters have expressed their anger at the thought of Benitez managing their club. When Andre Villas-Boas was fired as Chelsea coach last season and Benitez's name had been linked with the job, Blues fans at Stamford Bridge made it clear they did not want the Spaniard at their club by singing "F*** off Benitez, you're not welcome here."