• Champions League

No significance in Abramovich visit

ESPN staff
September 21, 2012
Roberto Di Matteo has said there was no added significance to Roman Abramovich's training ground visit © Getty Images
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Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has played down the significance of a visit by owner Roman Abramovich to the club's training ground after Wednesday's 2-2 draw against Juventus.

The Blues lost the 2-0 lead given to them by Oscar as the Italians hit back to claim a share of the spoils in the Champions League opener at Stamford Bridge.

According to some reports, Chelsea chief Abramovich went to the Cobham training complex and demanded to know why his Champions League winners had missed out on two points.

But Di Matteo, who steered the Blues to the trophy against Bayern Munich in Germany, said there was nothing out of the ordinary about the Russian billionaire's arrival.

"He comes quite often, to be honest - it's just that it was picked up on this time," the manager explained. "He likes to be involved and comes when he can and is always around when he can be.

"We weren't happy about the result, for sure, so it was not a particularly happy camp on Thursday.

"But it was good he was there. He's the owner, and he likes to know what's going on and speak to people. He does that all the time."

He admitted that being manager of a big club presented its problems, saying: "You are always under pressure to win games in the right manner. That's part of being a big club.

"Now we have to pick ourselves up, go again and win points in the Premier League."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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