Rafa Benitez’s tirade against Chelsea’s board and supporters appeared to go unpunished on Thursday, with the European champions saying it was “business as usual” and that he will still be in charge this weekend.

The Spanish coach released three months’ worth of pent-up frustration after Chelsea’s FA Cup win at Middlesbrough on Wednesday, criticising a section of the fans for their constant stream of abuse and describing the club’s decision to make his job title ‘interim’ manager as “a massive” mistake.

Benitez announced during his extraordinary outburst that he would leave the club at the end of the season – when his short-term deal was due to expire.

The incident sparked speculation that he wouldn’t last that long, given the reputation of ruthless Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

However, Benitez held a training session with the squad at the club’s training base southwest of London and players looked happy as they signed autographs and smiled for pictures in their cars.

When asked in an interview with the BBC on Thursday whether he would be sacked after his post-match comments, Benitez said: “No. They (the club) know how we work and what we are trying to do.

“If we stick together and support the players, we will be able to win games.

“Then, at the end of the season, I will leave and then they (the fans) can criticise.”

Backing up the club’s sole official announcement that it was “business as usual,” Chelsea confirmed Benitez would be holding his routine news conference on Friday to preview Saturday’s Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion.

Whether his departure is merely being delayed while Abramovich decides his next move remains to be seen.

But Benitez’s position still remains precarious, having been effectively undermined ever since he agreed to take over as the interim replacement of the popular Roberto di Matteo in November last year.

Benitez has also been denied regular access to Abramovich, instead having to go through technical director Michael Emenalo – a low-profile intermediary.

And then there is the regular hounding by a core group of Chelsea supporters, who refuse to accept him after his clashes with the club during his spell as Liverpool manager between 2004-10.

Many continue to sing the name of Di Matteo, who led Chelsea to its first Champions League title last season.

Chelsea fans spent much of the Middlesbrough match singing: “We don’t care about Rafa, he doesn’t care about us. All we care about is Chelsea FC.”

Others have been more nasty and personal.