YOKOHAMA, Japan — Chelsea has become more compact defensively under interim manager Rafael Benitez as it prepares for the soccer Club World Cup in Japan, defender Gary Cahill said Wednesday. The English Premier League side, which faces Mexico's Monterrey in the semifinal in Yokohama Thursday, took four games to register its first win under the Spaniard. However, nine goals in their last two matches have given Chelsea a boost for a tournament it is under pressure to win after an embarrassing group-stage exit from the Champions League. “Since (Benitez) came we have tightened up as a unit defensively and as a team,” Cahill told reporters. Chelsea has Brazilians David Luiz, Ramires and Oscar among their ranks and Benitez echoed Cahill's sentiments about how much the Club World Cup meant to them. “They said it was a dream for them to play in the tournament,” said Benitez, who won the trophy with Inter Milan in 2010 and was a runner-up with Liverpool in 2005. “I intend to win the tournament,” said Benitez, who replaced the sacked Roberto Di Matteo last month. With Fernando Torres rediscovering his touch after an alarming drought and scoring four goals in the last two games, Benitez even cracked a joke about Abramovich. Asked if he had received any message from the Russian tycoon, Benitez said: “Not at the moment. But I'm not planning on playing Abramovich at center-forward; I prefer Torres.” Monterrey coach Victor Vucetich says his side will be powerless to prevent Chelsea from scoring but still believes the Mexicans can pull off their biggest ever win. “I'm sure Chelsea will score goals tomorrow, but we will win” he said. “They are a strong, physical side and technically skilful. “We have great respect for them, they are one of the top teams in the world and in the Premier League but we have talent too,” said the 57-year-old. “We will look to show our quality. You always want to win the biggest tournaments regardless who your opponents. We want to write a new page in Monterrey's history. “We passed the first step and we are even more motivated for the next game and to show our strengths.” — Agencies
