Chelsea vs Tottenham: Rafa Benitez praises Andre Villas-Boas and Gareth Bale

Over the weekend Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez was in the press for having a go at rival manager Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United.

However, this week he appears to be in better spirits after managing to take three points from his old foe this past Sunday.

Now Benitez and his side have to prepare for a different all important match on Wednesday when the Blues host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

It will be the first time that form Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas returns to the venue since he was sacked by Blues owner Roman Abramovich in the middle of the 2011-12 campaign.

Since his departure and return to the English Premier League, AVB has managed to keep his new club right in line for contention to reach the UEFA Champions League alongside of London’s other two big clubs in Chelsea and Arsenal. It is certainly enough to wonder if his sacking from Chelsea was a little bit harsh.

However, despite any and all controversy that could be part of the coming match Benitez has been quick to roll out the kind words for one of his predecessors and also the reigning PFA Player of the Year, Gareth Bale:

“I think he is a good manager, he is working hard for his new team. They’re in a good position and doing well.

He [Gareth Bale]  is very good, having a great season and scoring a lot of crucial goals for them. He is playing in different positions and doing well in all of them.

The way we play, we have a good team with good players. We have to keep an eye on him but they have to keep an eye on ours.”

Chelsea’s players, fans and manager all know that their match against Tottenham is likely one that could determine whether or not they will have a place in the Champions League next season, and the pressure is building for it to be a massive fixture Wednesday afternoon.