After the sacking of manager Di Matteo on 21 November, interim manager Rafael Benítez only started Oscar three times in his first seven games. Benítez praised Oscar's attitude after dropping him for the FIFA Club World Cup Final against Corinthians and believed there was no rift between himself and the player.[27] He scored his first Premier League goal for the club on 23 December, scoring a penalty during an 8–0 win against Aston Villa.[28]