Soccer, English Premier League, champions league, Chelsea, Roberto di Matteo, Pep Guardiola
The newly appointed Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo is aware of the pressures he will have to face in the English Premier League. However, Roberto di Matteo is unconcerned by the uncertainties the English Premier League and Chelsea will test him with in the upcoming season.
Roberto di Matteo succeeded Andres Villas-Boas during perilous time for the Chelsea football club. The Blues were on verge of an embarrassing exit from the Champions League and had lost their spot in the top four of the English Premier League.
In an act of helplessness the Russian billionaire owner of Chelsea sacked Andres Villas-Boas and asked his assistant manager Roberto di Matteo to handle the club for the remaining few months of the season.
What transpired next was the biggest miracle in Chelsea’s history!
The former West Bromwich Albion manager re-united Chelsea’s squad and rejuvenated the club to a fifth place finish in the English Premier League. He also helped Chelsea to a stunning victory in the FA Cup final against Liverpool. However, Roberto di Matteo’s accomplishment in the Champions League is far more miraculous than that.
After a 3-0 away defeat to Italian powerhouse Napoli, Chelsea had acquire a 4-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. So on the day when no pundit predicted victory for Chelsea, the London outfit fought against all odds to acquire a superb victory against Napoli.
But that’s not even half of the story!
After defeating Napoli in the Round of 16, Chelsea grabbed victory over Benfica to enter semifinals where they were up against their European rivals Barcelona. Chelsea parked the bus at Stamford Bridge and somehow managed to score a goal to pick up memorable victory against Barcelona. Their second leg 2-2 draw against the Spanish football giants was even more impressive for a team that had been failing throughout the year.
Chelsea met Bayern Munich in the Champions League finals where Didier Drogba scored on a head in injury time to take Chelsea into penalties. He then took the final kick that led Chelsea to their first Champions League trophy.
In spite of all his achievements, Roberto di Matteo is still being looked as if he would get the axe any moment. Roberto di Matteo acknowledged rumors about him being replaced by a veteran manager. Nonetheless, the 42-year-old manager believes he will remain in the hot-seat till the end of the season.
Roberto di Matteo also rubbished rumors about him being replaced by Pep Guardiola.
“I don’t feel any shadow above me or behind me,” Roberto di Matteo said. “There has been speculation about other managers since day one and I have always lived with it pretty well.
“Everyone can say what they want. I will just focus on my job and try to do the best I can.
“I’m pretty happy with my new contract and that’s why I signed it. But I have been in football all my life and I understand how this business works. I clearly know that managers are judged by results.
“It’s no different for me than anyone else. The pressure is always there.
“Chelsea are always looking to win things and last season was not easy even if the end of the campaign was a pretty fantastic time.”
