Rafa Benitez chose not to participate in Chelsea's end-of-season lap of honour despite their 2-1 Premier League victory over Everton ensuring his final competitive match at the club ended on a high.
Multiple banners honouring Benitez for leading Chelsea to third place in the Premier League and the Europa League title replaced the routine booing and 'Rafa out' displays that had marked the majority of his time in charge and which ended, domestically at least, with goals from compatriots Juan Mata and Fernando Torres giving Chelsea their latest victory.
'It's for the families and the players,' said Benitez, who will overlook two end-of-season friendlies against Manchester City in America before finally departing.
'I received hundreds of messages, more than 200 messages on the website, from Chelsea fans saying 'thank you very much'.
'For me that is enough, and also the players telling me things privately.
'The majority of [the supporters] were very positive in the end. That is good.
'We couldn't change the opinion of some of them. We tried to do our best until the end.'
It was a very contrasting scene when he first took charge after being appointed the interim manager to replace last season's UEFA Champions League winning coach, Roberto De Matteo. But now it seems the Chelsea fans is a bit more appreciative.
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