Mission impossible Rafa faces a juggling act

RAFA BENITEZ faces Mission Impossible at Chelsea.

No, not winning over the fans. He knows that will never happen.
But putting out fresh legs against Manchester United in the FA Cup less than 48 hours after today’s clash against Southampton.
The Blues face an exhausting schedule with five matches in 13 days — starting with Southampton in the league today and the FA Cup quarter-final replay against United at lunchtime on Monday.
Benitez said: “In terms of preparation or tactics, we will be fine.
“Physiologically, it will be impossible. A day after a game you are tired. Two days, you are even more tired.
“This second day will be really tough for everyone.
“We then have three days before Rubin Kazan. Three days is very close. Four days is fine.”
United face Sunderland in today’s early kick-off and Alex Ferguson could afford to rest his entire first-choice 11 given the Red Devils’ 15-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City.
Unfortunately, Chelsea cannot afford to do the same as they are in a desperate scramble with Tottenham and Arsenal for a Champions League spot — and any slip-up could prove catastrophic. Boss Benitez added: “I don’t want to say this as an excuse. United don’t have another competition, they don’t have the Champions League.
“In the league they are 15 points ahead so their priority is the FA Cup.
“We consider all these factors. We have to put out a competitive team that can beat Southampton. But if I don’t pick, for example, Ashley Cole, if we lose, people will say, ‘Why did you pick Ryan Bertrand instead of Cole?’
“We have a lot of information and it’s not easy to make a decision. It’s impossible to be fully fit.
“All of them can play but at which level? Sometimes you’re not playing 100 per cent and still you can win.”
While Benitez has to shuffle his resources for their eight games in April, he insists that Chelsea still have an eye on a second-place finish.
At the moment, their main focus is to keep their noses ahead of Spurs and Arsenal.
But the Spaniard added: “If we can do what we think we can do, to beat Southampton, we will keep an eye on City for sure.”
Benitez spent the international break training with just five first-team players — John Terry, Fernando Torres, Marko Marin, Paulo Ferreira and Bertrand. And Gary Cahill and Ramires face late fitness tests.
As if Chelsea keeper Petr Cech is not wary enough of Saints after they earned a draw at the Bridge this season — even though Benitez’s side went to St Mary’s for an FA Cup tie and won 5-1.
Cech, who has proudly claimed his 100th cap for Czech Republic since Chelsea’s last match, said: “In the away game against Southampton we were very effective, taking our chances.
“And then at home we had a very good half but allowed them to come back into it. You cannot do that in the Premier League.
“The teams are strong enough to grab the chance if you give it to them — everyone in the Premier League has that quality and will take it if you let them.
“They changed manager to Mauricio Pochettino and they are more attacking, more organised and very good at pressing, which makes them more aggressive.
“And, in turn, they are more confident because of the success they’ve been having. It will be a different game again.”