BENITEZ UNSURE ON LAMPARD

The new Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that he expects both the English duo of Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole to leave the club at the end of the season. Frank Lampard is one of the longest serving Chelsea players at the moment.

He is the face of the club alongside John Terry after having joined the club back in 2001. He is right to the holder of numerous records at the club, but his contract comes to an end in six months. Similarly, Ashley Cole is also out of contract. The defender joined the club in 2006 and is regarded as one of the best left backs in the world.

The 34-year-old Frank Lampard is thought to be offered only a one-year extension to his contract, with the midfielder demanding around two years. This is also the similar situation with the defender Ashley Cole. The new Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez thinks that the situation is not going to change in the last six months, as he expects the pair to leave the club at the end of the season. This would complete an astonishing breakup of the Chelsea team that managed to win the Champions League title in the summer. Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, and José Bosingwa have already left the club.

"I think so, that is the case at the moment. I am only here for seven months. If it is for two or three years then maybe I would have an influence. Sometimes you are in a difficult position as manager because there's too much to decide on, so it's better to have a technical director sometimes," said Benitez after taking charge of the first time. Rafael Benitez becomes the 10th manager of the Roman Abramovich era, as he prepares to replace Roberto di Matteo at the helm.