Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez's BBC Radio 5 live interview in full

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez gave a passionate and revealing interview on BBC Radio 5 live following Wednesday's FA Cup victory at Middlesbrough.

The former Liverpool and Inter Milan boss criticised the Chelsea fans for their lack of support and says it was a "massive mistake" to name him as an interim manager.

The 52-year-old Spaniard also confirmed he would leave the Premier League club at the end of the season.

It has been a difficult few months for Benitez, who replaced Roberto Di Matteo in November, and he suddenly chose to voice his frustration to 5 live Sport in an interview following his side's 2-0 win at the Riverside.

Read a transcript of Benitez's interview with BBC Radio 5 live reporter Alastair Yeomans in full below.

Rafael Benitez on BBC Radio 5 live

BBC Radio 5 live reporter Alastair Yeomans: "What was a difficult first half for you in the end turned out OK?"

Rafael Benitez: "Yes, it was difficult, normally in the FA Cup it's always difficult but I thought our team was doing well, it was a professional performance, a lot of players doing well. I was really pleased with Nathan Ake [who made his full debut] and really pleased with Paulo Ferreira because they showed they are good players and fantastic professionals. So for me, a great performance of the team and I am really pleased with the result."

AY: "What was your thinking about making eight changes for this game, because we saw the other week when Arsenal maybe didn't play their full team against Blackburn they lost. What was your thinking about that?"

RB: "I had a lot of confidence in the players because I can see them training every day and they were doing really well, so I was really pleased, I could see in the training sessions and was really pleased, so to play them, no problem."

AY: "And first half, the tempo, was that quick enough for you, was that good enough for you?"

RB: "I think that they were pushing so they were working hard so it was not easy but they were doing their job."

AY: "How important is this FA Cup to you now? You go to Manchester United next so there are no givens."

RB: "I think for us every game, every trophy is really important. I have been manager for 26 years, I have won the Fifa Club World Cup, the Champions League, FA Cup, a lot of trophies and I'm really a little bit disappointed with some fans, a group of fans singing and I think they are not making any favour to the team.

"They have to support the team instead of wasting time doing banners or singing songs. What they have to do is support the team and create a good atmosphere in Stamford Bridge. If we cannot achieve the target that we are looking for, to be in the Champions League... If they continue singing and talking and talking then I think they are not making any favours. They have to support the players, they have to support the team, I have experience as a manager, I will do my best until the last day.

"They gave me the title of interim manager, it's a massive mistake. I am the manager and I will manage the team until the end, every single minute.

"If they want to carry on wasting time with these things because they have an agenda, they have to take responsibility if something is wrong. It's not just 'I will blame this one, I will blame the other one', what they have to do is to support the team and then everyone has to stick together and we can achieve what we want to achieve - that is the Champions League. Simple.

"If not then next year they can carry on singing but we will be in the Europa League so they have to realise that they are not making any favour - to the rest of the fans and also to the players."

AY: "When you made the comments that they are talking about, some of them, you were fighting for Liverpool. There was a big rivalry with Liverpool and Chelsea, you'd expect you to say those things, is that what you're saying?"

RB: "I am a professional, I am doing my job and I will do my job. What I want to do is, I want to win every single game for Chelsea Football Club. But, if they don't understand this, at the end of the season, because I am interim, I will leave. They don't need to worry about me.

"What they have to do is to support the team, to support the players. And it's a group of people and they have an agenda. They have to realise that the rest of the fans, they want to see the team the next year in the Champions League. It's not 'I am right or I am wrong', you have to see the team in the Champions League and they have to support the team, that is the main thing.

"At the end of the season, I will leave. They don't need to be worrying about me."

Rafael Benitez speaking to the written press

After talking to BBC Radio 5 live, Benitez continued on the same theme in his post-match news conference. Here are the selected highlights:

Speaking about Chelsea supporters, he said:

"If we cannot achieve what we expect to achieve, that is to be in the top four and be in the Champions League for next year, I will leave; they will stay in the Europa League."

"Again I will say, a group of fans, they don't realise - the rest of the fans, they want to see the team in the Champions League.

"This group of fans, they have an agenda, they say 'We are right'. They can be right at the end of the season, it's simple."

"They are damaging the image of the club and the rest of the fans because people think all the fans are the same.

"The Chelsea fans are really good, they support the team, but if they continue with their agenda, I don't think they do any favours to the team."

"I am the manager, I am professional and I want to clarify: I will do my best until the last minute, but if they carry on with this agenda, they are damaging the club, they are damaging the team and next year, if we cannot achieve the top four, they have to take a little bit of responsibility."

On whether he was hurt or surprised by the fans protests, he said:

"No. I am surprised, I have won nine titles, all the titles you can win at club level in three different countries so I have enough experience and have quality as a manager - but hear a group of people with an agenda carry on...

"They don't realise I will leave at the end of the season, they don't need to worry about me, they need to support the team. If they don't and we are not in the Champions league they can blame whatever they want but next year they will see the Europa league at Chelsea."

On being given the title "interim manager", he said:

"It was a surprise for me. Someone decided. I think it was a mistake, it's very clear. I don't know who decided that, but it was a mistake.

"I am the manager and I will be the manager until the last minute until someone decides, 'No, you are not'."

"Everybody is interim because after you, there is another one. But in this case, they didn't have anyone, so why put 'interim'?

"It's just to say to everyone, 'Because he was in Liverpool and just in case, we will put interim and then we will wash our hands'."

"Was the title a mistake from the start? Yes, 100%.

"I didn't know about the title. Obviously, you have an agent, they have to talk in Spanish-English translation, and I was surprised.

"But I couldn't change things because it was done. I thought it was a mistake, but still I couldn't change anything."

On how the Chelsea hierarchy will respond to his outburst, he said:

"I think they will know that I am trying to do my best, that's it."