Friday 1 March 2013 14:02, UK
Rafa Benitez will face the press as usual on Friday after claiming he remains on "really good" terms with Roman Abramovich.
His outburst sparked speculation that his position was in immediate danger and a lot of his Premier League counterparts have sympathy for the position Benitez finds himself in. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew feels the 'interim' title did not help anybody concerned. "The title probably didn't do him any favours," Pardew said. "It probably didn't help Chelsea, and perhaps even upstairs, they might regret that title, if you want to call it that. "He's a great manager; they are a great club. They will sort it out." Reading boss Brian McDermott understands Benitez's frustration at being given the 'interim' title, having experienced a similar situation himself. He said: "That is the title that the job was given. When I got the job here in the first place I was caretaker manager. It was called caretaker then until I got the job as the manager. That is kind of how it is. "The title was 'interim manager' and I understand that that title doesn't look to be a permanent title, I would suggest, so I can see from Rafa's point of view that wouldn't be the title he would have wanted."
