The Spaniard won Chelsea many friends at the Fifa Club World Cup with his charm, although whether he was promoting himself or the club was unclear. One evening, a group of us were chatting to Benítez in a narrow corridor at the Yokohama International Stadium when he spotted a cleaner attempting to squeeze past. He made us all budge up to allow gangway. It was a common courtesy, but remember this is football where arrogance inhabits bloodstreams. Then there is also the coldness emanating from Benítez, as former players will attest.