Europa League: Why Rafael Benitez Is Right to Target Cup Glory with Chelsea

Do you remember the names Bobby Stokes and Roger Osbourne? If you do, you are probably of a certain vintage in age, and if you don't, you may not agree with a word of this article.

Stokes and Osbourne wrote their names into football folklore as the winning goal scorers in the 1976 and 1978 FA Cup Finals with Southampton and Ipswich, respectively. Their names are now synonymous with cup success in the United Kingdom.

Stokes, who also played for the Washington Diplomats in the North American Soccer League after leaving the Saints, passed away in 1995 from bronchial pneumonia (BBC Sport), but his legacy will remain that moment at Wembley against Manchester United.

Similarly, Osbourne will never be forgotten for his winner against Arsenal for Bobby Robson's team.

Now, do you know the names of Roger Davies and Kenny Clements? Davies was a striker for Derby County in 1975-76 while Clements was a Manchester City regular in the 1977-78 season. Derby and City finished fourth in the top flight in the same season Southampton and Ipswich paraded the FA Cup.

Despite Arsene Wenger's protestations to the contrary, Arsenal supporters will tell you how it feels not to win a trophy with vehement authority. So too will Rafael Benitez and his Chelsea squad this season.

The Blues have already defeated Manchester United this week to reach the FA Cup semifinals and play host to Rubin Kazan in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals Thursday.

Benitez found himself the subject of criticism in the wake of Saturday's defeat at Southampton for making seven changes to his team as he maintained one eye on the cups this week.

But who could blame the former Liverpool and Valencia boss for seeking to add the FA Cup and Europa League to a CV which already includes the 2005 Champions League, two La Liga titles and the 2004 UEFA Cup?

Benitez is leaving Stamford Bridge when his contract ends at the end of the season, but will medals or fourth place in the Premier League impress future employers more?

Why should Benitez really care about Chelsea beyond May? He has not been given a comfortable ride by many of the supporters since he replaced Roberto Di Matteo in November, and his role was always going to be defined by its interim title.

What better way to send out a message to future employers of his worth than to lift the FA Cup on May 11 or the Europa League at the Amsterdam Arena four days later? In fact, winning both would be a major achievement by Benitez.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will disagree with that point with so much finance involved in the Champions League and that elusive fourth place in the Premier League. But even winning the thing did little to enhance Di Matteo's standing with the Russian last year.

Some major Chelsea players, too, must be considering their legacies at the club. Frank Lampard is still no closer to earning a new deal and looks poised to leave this season. The England international is professional enough to ensure fourth place for the Blues, but his personal goal will be lifting another trophy before he departs.

Imagine the possibility of breaking Bobby Tambling's Chelsea goal-scoring record with the winner in a major final. You can bet Lampard has.

Chelsea striker Demba Ba is the current darling of the Bridge after his winner against United Monday, and the former Newcastle forward insists winning trophies is a greater goal for a player than finishing fourth in the Premier League (The Sun).

Some will argue that reaching the Champions League will be the attraction for high-profile managers, notably Jose Mourinho, to join the club. But for the current incumbent and a number of his squad, the thought of silverware is another matter entirely.

For Abramovich, this could be the season when a number of decisions come home to roost. For Benitez and some of his Chelsea squad, it is a chance to sign off in style.

Which would you choose? Surely there is no contest.