Rafa Benitez has been appointed the new manager of Chelsea until the end of the season. The 52 year old replaces Roberto Di Matteo, who was shown the door following the club's 3-0 loss to Juventus in the Champions League.

The appointment of Benitez has not been greeted to kindly amongst the clubs fans. The Spaniard spent six years in charge of Liverpool, during which time they built up a fierce rivalry with the Blues. Becoming the ninth manager since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, this will be Benitiz's first coaching role since leaving Inter Milan in December 2010.

Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League last night, after behind held to a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid. A Sergeo Aguero penalty cancelled out Karim Benzema's first half goal, but it was not enough to stop the side falling at the first stage for the second successive season. Boss Roberto Mancini admitted he was disappointed, but did not expect to be ousted like Di Matteo over the failure.

"I think that the season is long. You have Champions League, FA Cup, Premier League. If we think that we can win a Champions League after two years, I think that we are crazy. I think that we need to improve as a team. I repeat that we did some mistakes...but we are a good team...but I don't have a fear for this (losing job)".

Jose Mourinho, to date the longest serving manager under Abramovich's Chelsea, said he wasn't so sure his job would be safe if it was Real Madrid that had faltered.

"City is out of the Champions League but they are out because of two big teams. Real Madrid and Dortmund are two very good teams and in this group we knew from the beginning that a big team would be out. And it is good that it is City as I think Roberto can work without any kind of problem I believe. Because if it was Real Madrid I do not think the press would let me return to Madrid."

Elsewhere in the Champions League, Jack Wilshire and Lukas Podolski both scored as Arsenal beat Montpellier 2-0 to qualify from the group. The Gunners are still second in the group after Schalke beat Olympiakos 1-0.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner