AS.com

Chelsea manager Rafa Benítez has said he understands why his new club's fans' grievances with him, but is working hard to win them around.

The Spaniard was given a hostile reception from Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge on Sunday during his first game in charge of the club, a 0-0 draw with Manchester City, but believes he will quickly be forgiven if his team can put together a run of victories.

"I understand the feelings of the fans because of my time at Liverpool, where we had rivalry and it was quite difficult. But at the same time I will try to prove I'm here for the right reasons," he said in a press conference ahead of Chelsea's game against Fulham on Wednesday.

"We want to win, and we can do that together. I'll try and improve players and it'll be easier to win games and bring the fans back. I can't worry if I'm upset or not. If it was a player, I'd be telling him to concentrate on his job. The best way to change things is to win games."

Benítez also declared his belief that Fernando Torres is far from the player he was when the pair worked together at Liverpool between 2007 and 2010, but does not think he is a lost cause just yet.

"The first thing is to give him some confidence, instructions as to how he can do things in a different way, improve him a little bit physically. You need to be stronger in defence, regain the ball easier and then you can create your own chances. That will benefit Torres. Players with mobility, quality... we can improve all these things.

"He's not exactly the same player now, because he was at maximum level at this time [at Liverpool]. But I think he can come back. How close? I don't know. It depends on the rest of the team. I'm sure he can improve, but the team has to help him."