Angry Oscar still has a future at Chelsea, insists Benitez

Rafa Benitez treated Neil Warnock’s jibes with ill-disguised disdain last night as he refused to rise to the Elland Road bait.

But the Chelsea boss took the gripes of Brazilian star Oscar far more seriously after the youngster was left out of the Club World Cup final.

Oscar was devastated to play just a cameo role in the defeat to Corinthians, admitting: “I was upset because I could have helped the team more had I been the holding midfielder, like Frank Lampard, or played instead of Victor Moses.

“But it was the manager’s decision. He is in charge. We cannot only play and beat the small teams. Sunday was a big game. We have to start winning these big matches.”

Benitez became aware of Oscar’s frustrations after the match and with Ramires and John Obi Mikel – as well as Gary Cahill – suspended tonight the Brazilian will play in midfield at Elland Road.

The Blues boss said: “I was surprised about it and asked him later but I believe Oscar is a good lad and a professional.

“The problem was that we had played with the same 11 players in the majority of the games and had to change because you can’t carry on playing the same people.

“Oscar is new to the Premier League and we also have Juan Mata and Eden Hazard to do the same job.

“Of course he would be happier playing every game but we all need to understand the team is the priority. I’ve told him he will have a lot of minutes and a great future here.”

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Source: DailyMirror