A good, trophy-winning coach in his time at Valencia and Liverpool, Benítez was always a strange appointment at the Bridge because of his past comments about Chelsea fans.
Even if those words, notably about their "stupid plastic flags", have been taken out of context and spiced with more conjecture down the years it was still a gamble by the Chelsea board.
Roberto Di Matteo had led Chelsea to the Champions League and FA Cup, was admittedly enduring a few travails, but did not deserve dismissal. Following a contentiously-sacked fans' favourite was always going to be difficult for Benítez.
Chelsea fans have been denigrated for not accepting Benítez but it is their club, their obsession. They are censured by other clubs' supporters for lacking passion, for being "plastic".
Yet their reaction to Benítez reflected the emotion they feel for Chelsea, and their anger over a perceived slight. They do not forget.
As he sat in the Middlesbrough press room, in front of an advertising hoarding for a chain pawnbrokers, Benítez continued with what sounded to his stunned audience as a farewell speech. He criticised the board for making his job title "interim", signalling his short-term status at the Bridge.
Never bite the hand that feeds. Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's benefactor, is hardly going to be impressed by an employee questioning him.
Benítez was accompanied by Chelsea's director of communications, Steve Atkins, but the Spaniard seemed very isolated. The man who never walked alone at Anfield was without succour or assistance here. He talked and talked himself further and further towards the exit door.
In truth, Benítez always has been alone at Chelsea. The players do not seem to have responded to him. He lost the final of the Fifa Club World Cup in Yokohama, a bauble that Abramovich craved.
Chelsea have slipped to fourth in the Premier League, he had an "exchange of opinions" with senior players at Cobham but insisted the players were behind him. Too true. Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were certainly behind him, sitting on the bench, as Benítez rotated.
This worked out better. Poor before the break, Chelsea improved markedly in the second half, a reality that will lead to inevitable speculation over who spoke the most stirring words in the dressing room at the interval, Benítez or possibly John Terry.
Chelsea emerged a far more assertive force after the break. Oscar wriggled in from the right, clipping in a cross that was controlled by Yossi Benayoun, who worked the ball away from Nicky Bailey and Seb Hines. Ramires took charge.
His shot took a substantial deflection off Fernando Torres, who was credited with the goal by the Riverside announcer. Torres seemed lifted by this apparent windfall.
He fired in a shot that Jason Steele pushed away. Then he ran into the box on the hour but was dispossessed far too easily by George Friend, who strolled away with the ball until fouled by Torres.
Benítez had seen enough of Benayoun, removing him after his involvement in the goal and replacing him with Eden Hazard.
Tony Mowbray also made a change, withdrawing Curtis Main, who had worked hard but could not outwit Terry. Ishmael Miller came on to partner Scott McDonald.
Chelsea were building towards a second goal. Hazard was the catalyst, running towards the Boro box, exchanging passes with Oscar and continuing into the area. Oscar's return was accurate, allowing Hazard to square the ball across for Moses to apply the coup de grace.
Hazard had made a real difference, playing with confidence. As the Chelsea fans continued to sing their dislike of Benítez, the Spaniard continued to make his changes.
David Luiz came on for the excellent Moses. Oscar was then rested with 10 minutes remaining and Marko Marin given a run-out. Boro refused to go out of the Cup meekly.
Merouane Zemmama hit a free-kick that Petr Cech saved low to his right. Then Grant Leadbitter swung over a corner, Cech missed the flight but Hines headed wide.
Miller volleyed left-footed over. Boro still pushed for a consolation. Miller was denied by Cech and Zemmama shot wide but it was too little, too late.
Chelsea won and their fans saluted the team warmly, while continuing to castigate Benítez. Chelsea had a good 45 but it is a possible P45 that will be debated on Thursday.
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