Everton 2-1

Independent:

Chelsea 2 Everton 1
Rafael Benitez lets his Chelsea players take the plaudits as David Moyes bows out

By GLENN MOORE

As the teams shook hands at the final whistle David Moyes walked towards the Everton fans, clapped them, then waved goodbye. A sea of hands, interspersed with thank you banners, waved back in mutual appreciation. Then he headed off, for a new life along the East Lancs Road at Old Trafford, taking their best wishes with him.
A few minutes later Chelsea's players re-appeared on the pitch for their lap of honour. The departing Paulo Ferreira was first out to a standing ovation – he carried the Europa League trophy. Next was John Terry, in full kit even though he had not played. Frank Lampard followed, then everyone else: the players, all their children, back-room staff, physios, media officers, kit men, et cetera. Still one man remained absent: the interim manager.
Moyes was at Everton for 11 years and oversaw 518 matches, 218 wins, and no honours. Rafa Benitez was at Chelsea for six months during which time the club won 28 out of 48 games, secured automatic Champions League qualification and lifted the Europa League. They also won this match with goals from Juan Mata and Fernando Torres sandwiching Steven Naismith's equaliser. It was Benitez's 11th victory in 17 matches against Moyes. But he stayed in the shadows.
Benitez could probably have risked an appearance on the pitch. He is still detested by Everton fans for once calling them "a small club" but now he appears merely unloved, rather than reviled, by the Chelsea support. There was even a home-made banner that said: 'Thank you Rafa. We forgive you. Good luck.' And while there was a loud chant of 'Jo-se Mou-rin-ho' after the match, the Special One-in-waiting was not mentioned during the game.
"I think [the lap of appreciation] is for the players and their families," said Benitez. "I've received a lot of messages on my website, maybe 200, saying 'thank you very much', people appreciating what we were trying to do."
Benitez also insisted that "the majority [of fans] were very positive by the end and I think I changed the opinion of some of them."
It had been, he said, a "great experience" with "many of the players improving" under him. Not that they showed their appreciation.
Guus Hiddink, when he was caretaker manager here, left with a £20,000 engraved watch and framed shirt signed by all the players. There was no gift for Benitez, he was not mentioned in speeches made on the pitch by Terry, Lampard and Ferreira, and the Spaniard admitted that Roman Abramovich (not present at Sunday's game) had yet to say "thank you". David Luiz was the only player to publicly wish him well.
"He was an amazing coach for the team and I learned a lot from him," said Luiz. Benitez is still travelling to New York for next week's friendly with Manchester City. After that, who knows? He would not be drawn on the possibility of pitching up in France with the country's champions, Paris St-Germain.
Moyes admitted he had not been given a going-away present by his players either, but said he expected them to buy him a drink on the train home last night. Moyes may not have won anything at Everton but leaves with everyone's good wishes after the notable achievement of turning them from relegation candidates to top-eight regulars on a mediocre budget.
Moyes said he "will be doing two jobs" this week as he ties up loose ends at Everton and begins work at Manchester United – with a meeting with Wayne Rooney top of the agenda. He confirmed he was "sad" to leave Everton and was taking an interest in the appointment of his successor, "but it is [chairman] Bill [Kenwright]'s decision".
On the Everton bench was the one remaining player who appeared in his first match, in March 2002, full-back Tony Hibbert. A sentimentalist might have picked him, but not Moyes.
With a sixth-place finish already confirmed there was little at stake for Everton. They nevertheless matched Chelsea for effort but lacked that extra multi-million-pound touch of class.
Mata tapped in after seven minutes when Tim Howard uncharacteristically spilled Demba Ba's shot. Naismith equalised after playing a neat one-two with Victor Anichebe as he took advantage of Luiz being drawn out of position. Everton then hit the post through a deflected Darron Gibson shot and later on Nikica Jelavic missed three good chances.
The Croatian has had a dreadful season but if he needs inspiration he need only look at Torres. Chelsea's fans had lost patience with the Spaniard by the time Benitez arrived, but under his compatriot's watchful eye the striker has shown signs of rejuvenation and he followed up his midweek goal against Benfica with a fine volley from Victor Moses's knock-down.
"This team will challenge for the title next season," said Benitez. That is a standard expectation-raising exercise by departing managers, but it is also true.

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Guardian:

Chelsea grateful to long-overdue Torres as Everton are finally seen off

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

Perhaps it was the raucous chorus of José Mourinho's name, summoned initially by those in the Matthew Harding stand but soon taken up by the majority, as players and coaches waited to re-enter for the lap of appreciation that persuaded Rafael Benítez this was no time to brave the arena one last time. The din must have reverberated round the tunnel, inescapable and deafening. A couple of post-season friendlies on the other side of the Atlantic aside, this acrimonious marriage of convenience is over.
This was an afternoon of farewells, whether delivered by Paulo Ferreira after a decade at Chelsea, or David Moyes after 4,083 days and 518 games in charge of Everton. Those relationships were forged on longevity, demanding of the respect demonstrated by the supporters even if Moyes was almost matter-of-fact about his own leaving of Goodison for Manchester United. There was no celebratory cake or champagne in the dressing room post-match, even if the outgoing manager of 11 years insisted he would make sure his players "buy me a drink" on the train back to Lime Street.
Benítez's situation was very different. His seven-month tenure had been fraught from the outset, the level of abuse to which he was subjected only subsiding once it became clear he would not be ushered on his way prematurely after that infamous press conference at Middlesbrough in February.
His players paraded the Europa League trophy on the pitch after securing third place here, both achievements that would normally merit acclaim, but the interim manager remained inside while his coaching staff joined the joyous throng out on the turf. Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ferreira all took the microphone in the centre-circle, but no one mentioned the manager. "That was for the players and their families," said Benítez, the implication being why should he risk souring the atmosphere by simply joining in?

There had been a couple of banners – "Thank you Rafa, job done" read one in the Shed end, with the other more of a felt-tip on A4 offering – that hinted at a warming to the Spaniard, though he preferred to take solace in the messages left on his blog. "I received hundreds of messages on the website saying thank you very much, people appreciating what we were trying to do," he said. "I think they have changed. After Middlesbrough you could feel a lot more support for the team. Players have said things privately to me, too."
David Luiz was prepared to go public. "We want to say 'thank you' because he was an amazing coach for the team," he said. "I learnt a lot from him and he's a professional guy. People said bad things about him but not many coaches can do what he does. He goes with a title and with us in the Champions League next year." There has been no message of thanks as yet from the absent Roman Abramovich but with a week-long trip to the US east coast to come, there is still time.
Mourinho, who should be confirmed in mid-June, once his departure from Real Madrid is smoothed, will inherit "a fantastic side" who improved under Benítez.
Fernando Torres registered the winner, rasping a first Premier League goal since 23 December – 19 hours and 39 minutes previously – inside Tim Howard's near-post from Victor Moses' knockdown as Chelsea, so leggy through the first period, ensured game No69 of term ended on a high. They had led early courtesy of Juan Mata's 20th of a personal 64-match marathon of a campaign, the Spaniard capitalising on Howard's error to convert a rebound, with Oscar outstanding in driving them back into the contest.
Yet Everton were still unfortunate to emerge without reward. They had been the dominant team before the interval, their response immediate to falling behind courtesy of David Luiz's error and Steven Naismith's smartly taken goal. Darron Gibson struck a post, Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar menaced down the left, while Nikica Jelavic passed up three late chances. In the end, Moyes failed to win any of his 46 league games at Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and United, though, in the context of Everton's years of toil before his arrival and their budget even now, his 11-year tenure has been a sustained exercise in over-achievement.
"I'm sad to be leaving," he admitted. "I've brought in every one of those players apart from Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert, and I hope every one of them thinks it was worthwhile signing on to the project, challenging the big clubs even though everyone thought it was impossible given our resources. We gave it a really good go."
He will be back at Finch Farm next week "to make sure everything's in place for whoever comes in". Michael Laudrup's agent was here and told the Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright, his client wishes to remain at Swansea for at least one more season. Phil Neville, whose playing contract expires next month, was all animated instruction as if auditioning for the role from the front row of the press box. Whoever comes in has a hard act to follow. Mourinho and many of the fans may not admit it, but the same may apply at Chelsea post-Benítez.

Man of the match Oscar (Chelsea)

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Telegraph;

Chelsea 2 Everton 1

Over in south-west London, most Chelsea fans were rejoicing at Rafa Benitez's last game in charge but the Spaniard did receive some pockets of support

By Jeremy Wilson, at Stamford Bridge

It has taken fully 48 games but finally, with a trophy in the cabinet and a place in the Champions League secure, there was discreet appreciation at Stamford Bridge for Rafael Benítez. It came in the form of a small sign.
“Thank you Rafa. We forgive you. Good luck.” Eight words but enough nevertheless to reinforce the sense that Benítez will depart with respect, if not affection, from the supporters.
Whether that feeling is reciprocated is rather less certain. Benítez headed straight down the tunnel after a 2-1 victory and left the players to take part in the usual end of season lap of honour. It was a rather sad public departure for a manager who, in the words of Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, has “fulfilled the aims” of his appointment.
Benítez later said that accepting the fans’ applause should be a moment simply for the players and their families but claimed that he has won over many hearts and minds.
“I have received more than 200 messages from Chelsea fans saying ‘thank you very much’ and explaining little things,” he said. “I think they have changed. You could feel more support for the team.”
Within the Chelsea dressing room, there was rather more public appreciation. “We want to say ‘thank you’ because he was an amazing coach for the team and for me personally,” said David Luiz. “People said bad things about him but not many coaches can do what he does. He goes with a title and with us in the Champions League next year. The coach will change but the mentality needs to be the same.”
Those words must also apply toEverton whose manager, David Moyes, received a rather less ambiguous send off on his 518th and last match for the club.
Moyes had never previously won at Stamford Bridge during more than 11 years at Everton and his team fell behind yesterday after only seven minutes. The goal actually had its roots in an Everton attack, with Branislav Ivanovic winning possession and releasing Juan Mata who, in turn, fed Oscar. Having helped start the move, Mata then followed in to put Chelsea ahead after Tim Howard spilt Demba Ba’s shot.
Everton were certain to finish sixth regardless of this result but, with Moyes prowling the touchline and applauding every tackle, there was no dip in their usual high standards.
Steven Naismith was a particular threat with his runs into the penalty area and, having shot one excellent chance over, he pounced on a moment of carelessness from Luiz. A quick exchange of passes with Victor Anichebe followed and Naismith was then precise with his finish past Petr Cech.
Chelsea, on what was their 69th match of the season compared to Everton’s 45, looked to be fading as they survived a series of chances, most notably when Darron Gibson hit the post and the ball rebounded off Cech and back on to the woodwork before bouncing to safety.
Perhaps spurred by the knowledge that Arsenal’s lead at Newcastle was putting third place at risk, Chelsea regained the initiative when Benítez replaced the ineffective Ba with Victor Moses and moved Fernando Torres into a central striker’s role.
Moses then almost immediately rose to selflessly head Oscar’s cross into the path of Torres. Chelsea’s £50 million striker had not scored in the Premier League since December but has been prolific in the Europa League and his confidence was evident as he smashed Chelsea’s winner inside Howard’s near post.
With Paulo Ferreira coming on for his last few minutes as a Chelsea player and taking most of the post-match plaudits alongside record goalscorer Frank Lampard, Benítez quietly made his exit.
For both him and the club, it was mission complete.


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Mail:

Chelsea 2 Everton 1: Moyes denied parting victory as in-form Torres nets the winner

By NEIL ASHTON

David Moyes shared a pint with his players on the train home to Merseyside on Sunday night before a quick shake of hands to say bye.
‘Players come and players go — managers come and managers go,’ was the Everton coach’s matter-of-fact analysis after his final game in charge.
They lost it — undeservedly — after the outstanding Juan Mata opened the scoring and Fernando Torres struck his first Premier League goal since December 23 to win it.
It was not the way Moyes wanted to go out, particularly after Steven Naismith’s sweetly taken equaliser, but he will put all that behind him when he clears his office at Everton’s Finch Farm training centre this week.
There was a moment when he walked on to the pitch for the briefest of waves to Everton’s fans at the final whistle, and then he was down the tunnel.
‘In many ways, I’m sorry to go,’ he admitted. ‘Managers need good players and they have given me an opportunity to succeed.’
Moyes has been in charge of Everton for 518 games, spending 11 years as the manager of this magnificent football club.
Whenever there is talk of trophies or taking his team across the finishing line and into the top four, he bristles at the very suggestion of under-achievement.
‘Everton won one cup in 10 years before I arrived, and they bobbed along near the bottom four of the Premier League,’ he added. ‘What we’ve done is a success; we’re competing for the Europa League.’
He is a very good manager, potentially a top-class one, and the chase for the top honours will start with the Community Shield on August 11.
By then, Rafa Benitez will hope to be in a new job after landing the Europa League and fulfilling his brief by finishing third in the Premier League.
It has been a slog, with his team playing 69 games and scoring a remarkable 147 goals during another chaotic and unpredictable season.
Rafa leaves with honour and dignity, even winning over some Chelsea supporters. A banner was unfurled in the East Stand at the final whistle that read ‘Thankyou Rafa, we forgive you’.
It was held up just high enough for Benitez to spot as he made his way down the tunnel for the final time as the club’s interim coach.
Sadly, he didn’t feel able to join the players for the lap of appreciation, but he has received grateful letters and emails.
‘A lot of people have been thanking me for what we are trying to do, but the end of the game was for the players and their families,’ Benitez said. ‘I think the fans changed their opinion. After the Middlesbrough press conference, you could see there was a lot of support for the team.
‘When we got the balance of the team right, you could feel more support.’
Most of the players were behind him, particularly David Luiz after his successful conversion to holding midfielder on occasion this season.
‘We want to say thank you to Rafa because he was an amazing coach and also for me personally.
‘People said bad things about him,’ Luiz added.
‘But he goes with the Europa League — and we will be in the Champions League next year.’

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Mirror:

Chelsea 2-1 Everton: Rafael Benitez signs off at Stamford Bridge with a win
Martin Lipton

They sang his name, without any sense of betrayal, despite his next port of call.
For the Everton fans, David Moyes has done more than enough to be thanked for his service, even if he signed off with a defeat.
Then again, it is a familiar feeling for Moyes when his side travel to the big hitters of the Premier League.
In 11 years, some 46 visits to the Big Four of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, he has never won a single league game.
And, as it has been, so it ended, with Fernando Torres’ first Premier League goal of 2013 ensuring an undeserved losing send-off.
But Moyes will be judged by tougher standards from now on. Going and competing atStamford Bridge as they did here, having the better of the first half before the defeat which confirmed Chelsea in third – is not enough when you inherit Sir Alex ­Ferguson’s job.
Not that the Scot has any doubts about what he has done. “I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity, and really thankful the chairman gave me that chance,” said Moyes.
“I hope I’m leaving the club in a better condition than when I took over.
“I’ve brought most of the players and I hope every one of them thinks it was worthwhile signing on to the project, ­challenging the big clubs even though everyone thought it was impossible given our resources.
“We gave it a really good go. Everton won one cup in the 10 years before I arrived, and bobbed along near the table’s bottom four.
“Of course there are regrets and things that could’ve been better. But we spend a half, maybe a third, on transfers and wages than the other clubs. It’s a big achievement for Everton, even if we haven’t had a trophy.”
Chelsea’s Frank Lampard was presented with a golden boot before kick-off by Bobby Tambling in recognition of breaking the club’s all-time scoring record.
But it was Juan Mata who gave the hosts the lead after just seven minutes when Everton keeper Tim Howard fumbled Demba Ba’s shot allowing the Spaniard to clip home. However, Everton were level before the quarter-hour mark, courtesy of a smart finish by Steven Naismith.
And until the break Moyes’ men were the better side. Darron Gibson’s shot deflected off Nathan Ake and struck the post, then Petr Cech’s face and then the upright once again.
Kevin Mirallas was denied by the home keeper and Steven Pienaar curled just over. But the second half was all Chelsea, who, with third place on the line, had something to play for.
Howard made amends for his howler with a diving stop to foil Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic smashed over the top and two vital deflections by Sylvain Distin frustrated Ba.
But the French defender could do nothing when Victor Moses laid off Oscar’s cross and Torres slammed home inside the near post from six yards out.
Everton were still creating chances, Nikica Jelavic sliding in to stab wide when Leighton Baines delivered at 1-1 and then, after Torres struck, kept out by Cech twice.
And so it ended, with no fanfare.
“I’m sad I’m leaving Everton,” added the man who will boss Manchester United next season.
“But it’s my job. I’m going to be seeing them again – passing ships, if that’s what they say. Players change clubs, so do managers.”
His biggest challenge is only just beginning.

How they rated:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 7; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 6, Luiz 6, Cole 7; Lampard 6, Ake 6; Oscar 7 (Ferreira, 88, 6), Mata 8 (Azpilicueta, 82, 6), Torres 7; Ba 5 (Moses, 66, 6)

Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard 6; Coleman 7, Jagielka 6, Distin 7, Baines 7; Pienaar 7, Gibson 6, Fellaini 6, Mirallas 6; Naismith 6 (Jelavic, 66, 5); Anichebe 5 (Heitinga, 67, 5)

Man of the match: Mata - summed up his season

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Sun:

Chelsea 2 Everton 1
Mark Irwin

IT has taken six months and 48 games for anyone at Chelsea to say a decent word about Rafa Benitez.
But in the interim manager’s final match in charge, he finally received a grudging acknowledgement of the job he has done to drag the club back from the brink of implosion.
Not that the Stamford Bridge fans could bring themselves to chant the Spaniard’s name as their team secured a third-place finish to guarantee a group spot in next season’s Champions League.
But at least one punter behind the dugout took the trouble to hold up a hand-made sign reading: ‘Thank you Rafa, we forgive you’.
And in the last few paragraphs of his programme notes, chairman Bruce Buck finally got round to putting his gratitude to the boss on record.
Better late than never, I suppose, but it was not exactly an emotional farewell.
Even when the players and their families were parading the Europa League trophy after the game, there was no sign of Rafa and no mention of him in the speeches.
Benitez’s low-key departure was in stark contrast to the send-off David Moyes is getting after 11 years without a single trophy at Everton.
And the new Manchester United boss is leaving the Merseysiders after failing to win a single game in 46 visits to Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Moyes knows he will not get away with that kind of record with his new employers.
But he will have to get used to inflated expectations at Old Trafford, where he will not be getting a pat on the back just for finishing above the neighbours.
A top-six finish was everything that could have been asked of Everton as they once again just missed out on European football.
But Chelsea demand much more from their manager and Benitez has achieved pretty well all the targets set for him when he took over from Roberto Di Matteo back in November.
For not only has he delivered silverware and Champions League football, he has even got Fernando Torres firing again.
So it was ironic that the final goal of his Bridge reign came off the boot of the £50million striker to end any fears of a play-off with Arsenal to determine third spot.
Torres’ fierce 76th-minute drive — his first Premier League goal this year — means that Chelsea are now free to fly to America today for two money-spinning friendlies against Manchester City.
Benitez will accompany them on their trans-Atlantic jaunt but, as far as most Chelsea fans are concerned, he is already history.
In their 69th game of an extraordinary season, Chelsea still managed to finish fresher than an Everton team who have played 24 fewer matches.
In an open game of endless opportunities, they were ahead after just seven minutes when Tim Howard failed to hold a tame low shot from Demba Ba and Juan Mata pounced on the loose ball for his 20th goal of the season.
But the visitors were deservedly level within seven minutes after David Luiz carelessly lost possession to Steven Naismith on the edge of his own area.
Ashley Cole thought he had retrieved the situation with a timely challenge on Victor Anichebe but the ball broke perfectly for Naismith to beat Petr Cech with a cool finish.
And Everton could easily have been ahead three minutes later when Darron Gibson’s shot deflected off the boot of Nathan Ake, hit the post, rebounded against the head of Cech, struck the post again and bounced away to safety.
Kevin Mirallas, Steven Pienaar and Anichebe all threatened as Everton chased the win they needed to beat their highest points total in the Premier League of 65, achieved in the 2007-08 season.
But despite the constant upheaval at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons, the resilience and determination instilled by Jose Mourinho all those years ago remain intact.
Frank Lampard, presented with a golden boot by Bobby Tambling for establishing a new 203-goal club record, should have struck again just before the break but sliced hopelessly wide from Ba’s clever backheel.
Gary Cahill forced a smart reaction save from Howard and Branislav Ivanovic smashed another glorious opportunity high and wide as Chelsea turned up the heat.
And their reward finally arrived 14 minutes from time when Victor Moses headed Oscar’s cross down for Torres to beat Howard with his 22nd goal of the season.
Nikica Jelavic almost levelled when he first slid in to reach Leighton Baines’ low cross but shot wide and then brought an important save from Cech with a towering 86th-minute header.
Chelsea, though, were not to be denied the victory and celebrated at the final whistle with a lap of appreciation.
Lampard, John Terry and even Paulo Ferreira were given a huge send-off as they thanked the fans for their support.
But Benitez was nowhere to be seen as Chelsea prepare for the return of Mourinho.

DREAM TEAM STAR MAN - OSCAR (Chelsea)

CHELSEA: Cech 6, Ivanovic 5, Cahill 6, Luiz 6, Cole 6, Lampard 6, Ake 6, Torres 6, Mata 5 (Azpilicueta 5), Oscar 7 (Ferreira 5), Ba 5 (Moses 5). Subs not Used: Turnbull, Marin, Benayoun, Christensen. Booked: Torres, Luiz.
EVERTON: Howard 5, Coleman 6, Jagielka 5, Distin 6, Baines 6, Mirallas 6, Gibson 6, Fellaini 6, Pienaar 6, Naismith 6 (Jelavic 5), Anichebe 6 (Heitinga 6). Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Oviedo, Barkley, Duffy. Booked: Fellaini, Heitinga.
REF: A Taylor 7