Mancini backs Benitez: 'You need to remain united and have faith in the manager'

Rafa Benitez is facing the sack from Inter Milan unless his side can beat FC Twente at home tonight.

England coach Fabio Capello is among the candidates being considered by Inter owner Massimo Moratti with Jose Mourinho’s successor failing to impress.

Benitez suffered a Champions League humiliation at Spurs on Matchday four with Gareth Bale single-handedly destroying his side 3-1.

Inter’s form is also on the wane in Serie A with the club trailing leaders and bitter rivals AC Milan by nine points following a shock defeat to Chievo at the weekend.

The upset was Inter’s fifth consecutive game without a win.

Delivering the dreaded vote of confidence, Moratti said: “Benitez has my faith but we must try to get a good result because it is rather important,.

“The coach and the squad must understand that Wednesday’s game is very important.

“Tired or otherwise, the game absolutely needs to be played with anger because otherwise we will not get anywhere.

“In situations like this, the most important thing is patience. Everything cannot always go well. We just have to hope we start to get a bit of luck.”

“I am pleased to have the feeling that the team and the club have certainly not shown a lack of confidence in (Benitez).”

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has also backed Benitez.

Mancini told Italian radio: “Benitez is not just any manager - he is good and experienced. I think that after so many years of success sometimes a team encounters difficulties.

“It’s normal - you can’t win all the time. In these cases you have to knuckle down to pick yourself up. They have the players and they are still in the running even though they are nine points behind.

“You need to remain united and have faith in the manager. I think the problem above all is there have been so many injuries. Benitez has been really unlucky with all this.”