The Rafa Effect

Throughout Rafa Benitez's first three home fixtures in charge, the chant "there's only one Di Matteo" rang throughout Stamford Bridge several times a game. If I was there, I would have gladly joined. The decision to replace the man who had won Chelsea its first Champions League crown less than four months into the new season is one of Roman Abramovich's most questionable moves. It was even more undesirable when considering his replacement was Rafa Benitez, the man who had voiced his displeasure with Chelsea fans numerous times during his tenure with Liverpool.

If there was any logical methodology in hiring Rafa, it would be that he brings a better defensive approach, and he had an existing successful relationship with Fernando Torres. Getting Torres going had been the unsolvable puzzle for each Chelsea manager, and reuniting him with his old boss appears to be his last chance with the club. The team had also become uncharacteristically mistake-prone and flimsy at the back, and simple mistakes were costing the team results. If Rafa could institute his defensive style and reignite the fire under Torres, the switch would prove successful.

Although initial results were poor, Rafa's effect on the team can now be properly gauged. Defensively, the team is greatly improved. Chelsea conceded two goals or more in seven of Di Matteo's last nine games in charge, while they have conceded two goals or more just once in Rafa's first nine games, including three clean sheets. The decision to move David Luiz to midfield has been a key switch. Luiz has loads of talent and a wide skill set, but he has proven time and time again that he makes too many silly errors to be a central defender in the Premier League. In a holding midfield position, Luiz can take the chances he takes as a center back, but have the cover of the defense in case he makes a mistake. The results have been good - Cahill and Ivanovic have been strong in the center and Luiz has showed his attacking skills with numerous through balls and the wonderful free kick against Aston Villa. Azpilicueta has been strong down the right hand side, whipping in crosses for the forward line to attack, while providing a bit more pace than Ivanovic did in that spot. As a unit, the defense looks far more compact even without the experience of John Terry.

The relationship between Rafa and Torres was widely discussed following the former's appointment, with the hope being that Rafa could trigger the lagging form that plagued the No. 9 throughout his time at Chelsea. Since the switch, Torres has looked far more pacy and hungry for goals. He has scored seven goals in nine games under Benitez, and Chelsea have won every game he scored in. It makes you think twice about the upcoming window - the rumor is that Chelsea would purchase Falcao. Clearly, Falcao is a world-class player, but with Torres in this kind of form, it may not be necessary to spend so much at this time. Waiting until the summer could be a better move than splashing the cash now. But as always with Chelsea, that decision is up to Abramovich.

Chelsea fans are never going to completely warm to Benitez - the Liverpool days have done too much damage to completely forget his past. But the steady improvement of the side since he took over, and the possible addition of players in January, could turn the tide further in Rafa's favor. It's time for Chelsea fans to give him a chance - the Premier League is far from over.