Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has stated his intention to select a strong starting lineup for tomorrow's Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey.

Some reports had claimed that Benitez was planning to rotate his squad in order to keep some of key players fresh for the final at the weekend against Corinthians.

However, the Spanish coach has insisted that his side will not be taking their Mexican opponents lightly in the final four.

"I intend to win," Benitez told reporters. "I'll pick players to win the first game. You cannot think about the final until you've won the semi-final."

The Blues qualified for the tournament thanks to their Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich in May.

Written by
Liam Apicella