Final Score: Chelsea 2 Everton 1

RAFAEL BENITEZ led Chelsea to third place in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Everton before deciding not to bid farewell to his fiercest critics, the home supporters at Stamford Bridge.

After Fernando Torres’ first Premier League goal of 2013 sealed a 2-1 win over Manchester United-bound David Moyes’ Toffees, captain John Terry, midfielder Frank Lampard and utility man Paulo Ferreira addressed the crowd, whose celebrations included a chorus for Jose Mourinho.

None of the trio mentioned Benitez, who opted to leave the lap of appreciation for the players, after succeeding in his mission to lead Chelsea to a Champions League return and silverware, with Wednesday’s Europa League final win.

‘‘It’s for the families and the players,’’ said Benitez, who was praised by the players following the defeat of Benfica in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

‘‘I received hundreds of messages, more than 200 messages on the website, from Chelsea fans saying thank you very much.

‘‘For me that is enough, and also the players telling me things privately.

‘‘The majority of them were very positive in the end. That is good.

‘‘We couldn’t change the opinion of some of them. We tried to do our best until the end.’’ The defeat of Everton was Chelsea’s 28th win in 48 games of Benitez’s seven-month reign, during which the Spaniard had to endure vitriol from a hostile support.

The fans’ disdain dissipated following Benitez’s outspoken appeal at Middlesbrough in February, when he called for them to use their energies to back the team, rather than barrack him.

It appears to have worked, with Chelsea last having lost at Stamford Bridge on January 2.

‘‘They have changed after the Middlesbrough press conference,’’ Benitez added.

‘‘You could feel more support for the team.’’ With champions Manchester United and Manchester City under new management next term, Benitez is confident Chelsea can challenge for the title under his successor, whether it is Mourinho or not.

‘‘This team will be challenging for the title next year,’’ Benitez added.

‘‘It has been a great experience.

We’ve taken a team, a team in transition with young players, and now we have left a good team, with more experience, with good character, scoring goals, more balance.

‘‘I think it will be good for the next manager because he will have a very good team, and also the owner will bring in more players.’’ Benitez does not know what awaits him and would not be drawn on his future beyond today’s departure to the United States for the end-of-season tour, but his former Merseyside rival immediately begins work as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford.

Moyes said: ‘‘I’ll probably be doing two jobs for the next week or so. I’m sad that I’m leaving Everton. Look at the players. I brought every one of them, except Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman, who were already here.

‘‘I hope every one of them will think it was worthwhile joining Everton.

‘‘I hope I’m leaving the club in a better condition than when I took over and I think the group of players they’ve got are a top group of players.’’ Everton finished sixth after Moyes’ 518th match in charge and he hopes everything is in place for his successor, whoever it may be.

‘‘In truth, we’ve probably done as well as we can do at Everton,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve pushed close to try to break into the top four, up until about three weeks ago, it just started to get away from us.

‘‘I’ll go into Finch Farm (Everton’s training ground) some of the days next week and make sure everything’s in place for whoever the incoming manager is.

‘‘Most of it is anyway, but I’ll just make sure that everything’s as ready as I can leave it.’’