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Rafael Benitez: 'Chelsea victim of their own success'

Benitez: 'Chelsea victim of own success'
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Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez hints that winning the Champions League last season may have tempered the hunger and ambition of his players.

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez believes that the players could be victims of their own success in the Champions League.

The Spaniard claims that his squad may be lacking hunger and ambition to perform well in Europe this season because of their success in the competition last term.

"At a top side, who have already won trophies, but you're missing one, that is the ambition," The Mirror quotes him as saying.

"Chelsea won the Champions League, a massive achievement, but now they've done that it changes the perspective a bit for the next season.

"It changes the hunger of the players, and the staff. If you want to stay at the maximum level for a while you have to be competitive. It's part of our job to push them and try and keep the competition."

However, Benitez believes that this is normal for any team.

"The normal situation is like this in any club," he added. "I can talk about the things I can see - every training session, the commitment is there.

"I can't say they don't want to win, because they won it. I think it's the opposite."

Chelsea will host Nordsjaelland in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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Juan Mata
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