• Premier League

Di Matteo: I haven't set the bar too high

ESPN staff
July 4, 2012
Roberto Di Matteo won the Champions League and FA Cup at Chelsea last season © PA Photos
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Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo admits there is pressure on him to deliver silverware after his achievements last season - but he is in no doubt he can produce the goods.

Di Matteo landed the full-time manager's job at Stamford Bridge after clinching the FA Cup and Champions League while in interim charge during the most recent campaign.

Their success in the cups was in marked contrast to how they fared in the Premier League, with a sixth-place finish well below what has been the norm in the Roman Abramovich era at the club.

There has been the suggestion that Chelsea had luck on their side during the Champions League run, and that they were able to over-achieve as a result.

However Di Matteo, whose squad has been bolstered by the arrivals of promising attackers Marko Marin and Eden Hazard, does not mind being set lofty targets as manager.

"Having won the European title might bring some expectations, yes, but I think it's a club that has always had expectations. That is nothing new for our players," Di Matteo said.

"I don't see any reason to change. I am the way I am - this is me. The way I operate is me and that's not going to change in the future.

"I have my way to communicate with the players and I will continue with that. My job is to make them feel confident and to put their talent for the service of the team and try to win games.

"We certainly have to make up ground [in the Premier League] because we finished 25 points behind the leaders so that's going to be a big job."

Di Matteo was also philosophical when questioned over Chelsea's young stars taking part in the London Olympics later this month.

"As a manager, you would like to have them with you in pre-season, but it is the Olympic Games and players will want to be involved with it," he said.

"It is a great opportunity for the players to be involved in the Olympic team, one that the players do not want to lose out on. It is not ideal, but there will be many clubs in the same situation as us."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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