There’s a paradox at the heart of Chelsea Football Club, and it concerns Mr Interim, Rafa Benitez.

Fans want rid of the temporary manager, believing the team is barely treading water at present.

They are marking off the remaining dozen fixtures, one by one, in a slow, lingering countdown to the end of the season.

Yet, within Stamford Bridge and the Cobham training ground, Rafa is seen by staff and players as approachable, amiable, relaxed, friendly and bubbly.

He may not be the most astute user of subs the game has ever seen, but Rafa sticks up for his stars and takes a friendly interest in everyone he works with.

However, after beating Middlesbrough 2-0 in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday, Mr Interim knows his failure to win over supporters means his chances of being the next full-time manager have evaporated, so although he is determined to wring the best out of the games that remain, he is now viewed as a man working out his notice.

A new name is expected to emerge soon after the final game of the season, the home tie against Everton on Sunday, May 19.

At the Etihad last Sunday, Benitez again shuffled his pack to cope with the fixture congestion.

He refers to this process as ‘squad management’, because he detests the word ‘rotation’.

David Luiz was dropped back to central defence in place of John Terry, while Mikel was restored to his old position in front of the back four.

City started at the gallop and had the lion’s share of chances, despite Frank Lampard missing a penalty.

Unfortunately for the midfielder, he remains three short of the club goalscoring record as City goalkeeper Joe Hart knows Lamps’ spot-kicking too well from their England days.

Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat means the pressure on third and fourth places is intense.

Spurs have now leap- frogged the Blues, while Steve Clarke’s West Brom visit at the weekend.