Rafael Benitez insists Chelsea are still contenders in the Barclays Premier League title race, and hopes success at the Club World Cup can prove the catalyst.

Benitez has won only one of his three league matches in charge at Stamford Bridge since his appointment, widely unpopular with the fans, in place of Roberto Di Matteo.

Chelsea have now slipped 10 points behind league leaders Manchester United, and that gap is only likely to grow this weekend while they are in Japan, contesting the Club World Cup final against Corinthians on Sunday.

But Benitez, recalling how his Valencia side rallied from eight points down to win the Primera Division title in 2004, believes they still have hope.

“People tell me that it’s a two-horse race but, realistically, if you win two or three games in a row then you have more confidence,” Benitez told a number of newspapers.

“If we win here and play like we did against Monterrey (in the semi-final), good football with the quality we have going forward and the right balance in defence, this team can go on to win games in a row easily.

“How many? I don’t know. But if you win three or four in a row, confidence will be so high.

“At Valencia we were well behind, eight points down in January or February, but I told the players that they would go on to win the league.”

Asked if he had yet had that conversation with his Chelsea players, Benitez added: “I’ve not told the players here, yet, that we can win the league.

“If we win here it will make a difference. I can see in their faces they have belief. That means it’s working and we can talk about the movement we need.

“But I will be able to see if I can do it here after our first Premier League match back, against Aston Villa.”