Why didn't he just start Ba, Hazard, Ramires and Luiz and go from there? Stupid stupid tactics, but no real shock there.
WHY? Because he's got cotton wool for brains! All that needed to happen was that he was told Top 4 PL was absolute priority over every thing else!
This is pretty much what it boils down to. Arsenal win next week and then we are 5th and from there it becomes remote that will make top 4.
Think Arsenal are in the driving seat for 3rd now as they have nothing else to concentrate on,way I see it we are in a 4th place dogfight with the spuds.
I actually think Arsenal have far more balance to their squad than Chelsea or Spurs. Arsenals best XI is inferior to both but they have a lot more in reserve. Take out Mata, Hazard and Cole and we are a toothless outfit, same with Spurs and Bale, Vertonghen & Dembele. Arsenal could cope with the loss of their 3 best players better than anyone else.
Then again, Arsenal could get drawn into a dog-fight for 5th, with Everton and 'Pool. They have bottled it before.
You can understand why Benitez would rather go for the glory of a trophy than merely finishing in the top 4. Who's going to remember him for that, in a few years' time? Whereas, if he wins the FA Cup, that'll guarantee him another job in the EPL. The only way to change his mind-set would be for the Russian to offer him a massive bonus for finishing in the top 4. If he hasn't done that, what do you expect?
if benitez wins the FA cup and the europa he will still go down in history as chelsea's most hated manager ever. all it would mean is him giving us all the finger as he walks off.