Boss Benitez refuses to rule out extended stay in Premier League

The Blues on Monday beat Manchester United to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals and play Rubin Kazan in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tonight in their third of six games in 16 days.

Benitez’s appointment in November until the end of the season was prompted by the Champions League winners’ group-stage elimination from the same tournament and a top-four Barclays Premier League place is imperative to return to the competition next term.

The Spaniard, an unpopular appointment due to his prior association with Liverpool, declined to look too far beyond winning the next game, but felt compelled to comment on his own future.

Benitez said: “If we can achieve trophies and finish in the top three, fantastic. Everybody will be happy. That is my aim at the moment.”

As for his own future, he added: “I like to win, to challenge for trophies. I would like to stay in a top side. A top side, why not in England?”

Ashley Cole and his fellow England defender Gary Cahill (knee) face absences of two to three weeks, meaning the duo are likely to miss the return leg with Rubin Kazan in Moscow and are major doubts for the Wembley FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City a week on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Tim Krul and defender Davide Santon were both included in the Newcastle squad travelling to Benfica tonight.

Krul, out for the last seven games due to an ankle injury, and Santon, sidelined for Saturday’s 4-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City by a thigh problem, featured in a 19-man party.

Tottenham will be without striker Jermain Defoe against Basle at White Hart Lane.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas confirmed Defoe, 30, is likely to missing for up to 10 days after sustaining a muscle injury, but said it was not a recurrence of the muscle tear he suffered last month.