Rafa bullish despite Swansea shock

LONDON - Rafael Benitez insisted Chelsea had been unlucky after a 2-0 defeat in their League Cup semifinal first leg tie by Premier League rivals Swansea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.Both Swansea goals in a backs-to-the-wall effort came as a result of two errors by Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.In-form Spanish striker Michu scored his 16th goal of the season in the 39th minute with a curling shot from the edge of the box after Ivanovic miscontrolled the ball.And in stoppage time, shortly after Chelsea substitute Demba Ba had had a penalty appeal turned down on his home debut, Swansea’s Danny Graham scored for the fourth match in a row after another Ivanovic mistake.Interim Blues manager Benitez, brought in to replace sacked fans’ favourite Roberto di Matteo, endured fresh jeers from Chelsea supporters.But the Spaniard insisted any hostility directed at him was beside the point. “You (the media) analyse all these things because we lost,” he said. “But the way we played, the chances we created, is what we have to do.“I think the team were doing really well, had a lot of chances and could have scored two or three in the first half, but made two mistakes and paid for them. That is the reality.Wednesday’s result was the second surprise English League Cup semifinal first leg scoreline in as many days, if not as great an upset as fourth-tier Bradford City’s 3-1 defeat of Premier League Aston Villa on Tuesday.Now Welsh side Swansea will look to seal their tie against European champions Chelsea in the second leg at the Liberty Stadium on January 23, with the prospect of an improbable final against Bradford in their sights.

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Rafa bullish despite Swansea shock