YOU’LL NEVER BEAT BITTER BRIDGE BOO BOYS, RAFA

HE could have been humped 10-0, and it wouldn’t have mattered to the Toon Army.

As far as they are concerned there is only one man responsible for the club currently treading water – Mike Ashley.

Rafa Benitez (below) is a manager who plays politics better than any other in the Premier League.

He has already fought and won his Newcastle battles in the court of public opinion.

In the eyes of the Magpies fans he is bombproof.

That is not to say that he is complacent. But give him the right tools – as Chelsea fans know – and he can do the business.

The Blues celebrated Europa League success under the Spaniard.

The booing that Benitez’s name received here was surprising under the circumstances.

He restored stability to a club threatening to lose their way in 2012. To guide them to a third-place finish along with a trophy was a feat deserving more than a reminder from the diehards.

They can never forget his Liverpool reign and all that came with it – ghost goals, plastic flags and a bitter, six-year rivalry.

It could never just be over, just like that.

Benitez saw Chancel Mbemba (above) booked and suffered late ribbing with chants of “Rafa, Rafa what’s the score?” But if he could cope with thousands of fans spitting out taunts of “F*** off, Benitez, you’re not wanted here!” during his time in the home dugout, he could certainly handle an afternoon of it here as the away boss.

If anything, he will have left London knowing there may be trouble ahead for Chelsea fans with one of his compatriots, Luis Enrique, waiting in the wings to replace Antonio Conte.