Harry Redknapp says any manager who fails to succeed at Chelsea would be 'a real dope'

QPR boss says the quality of players available at Stamford Bridge makes any manager's task simple

Anyone who takes over as manager of Chelsea and cannot be successful would have to be a dope, according to QPR manager Harry Redknapp.

The Rangers boss takes his side on the short journey to Stamford Bridge to face the European champions tonight with QPR still stranded at the foot of the Barclays Premier League table.

Redknapp took over at Loftus Road just three days before Chelsea hired Rafael Benitez as their interim manager.

The Spaniard was jeered by a large number of Chelsea fans following his previous associations with Liverpool but the Blues have now won their last four league matches after losing 3-1 at West Ham on December 1.

Redknapp reckons Benitez will do well during his tenure at Chelsea but believes it is not the hardest job in the world of football.

"He has walked into a squad of players there who are Champions League winners - you've got a chance, haven't you," he said.

"You'd have to be a real dope to mess it up with that group of players - (Eden) Hazard, (Juan) Mata, (Frank) Lampard.

"He's a clever guy. Even in the West Ham game that they lost, they could have been out of sight at half-time."

Redknapp does not feel he is in a similar position in regards to the players he inherited when he entered Loftus Road.

The 65-year-old has not seen a happy bunch of players at the club's Harlington training ground.

"Since I've been here...I think they were all looking to blame each other for the horrendous start, but most have been fine and worked hard," he said.

"We now need to find that little bit of quality somehow that can make the difference to us."

With the money spent on players by QPR owner Tony Fernandes during the managerial reigns of Neil Warnock and Mark Hughes, Redknapp thinks the squad is still short on numbers.

He said: "Our two centre halves have given everything - but they're both 35. No disrespect, but Ryan Nelsen came here as fourth choice. He said he would give it a go for another year and play a few games if needed.

"I took him to Tottenham last year on the same basis. He's been fantastic here, but he's played every game since I got the job.

"Clint Hill has done great - he went out on loan last year to Nottingham Forest and has done a good job. But we're short and need a bit more and I've got to find one or two if I can."

Redknapp is expected to delve into the transfer market during the January window and has hinted he would be interested in taking Liverpool midfield Joe Cole to west London.

But a defeat against local rivals Chelsea would leave QPR eight points from safety, making it harder to attract the right type of player to the club.

PA