• 'This final against Bayern can decide our club's history'
• Interim coach deflects questions about his own future
Four days ahead of a match when Roberto Di Matteo hopes Chelsea can achieve "something extraordinary" the interim first-team coach was in full dead-batting mode. Those who questioned whether the outcome of the Champions League final would determine his future at Stamford Bridge were deflected with selfless talk of responsibility and making "history". Self-promotion was not on the agenda, even as reports emerged back in Italy that his former club Lazio might seek to tempt him into a return to Serie A.
Then there are his most recent employers, West Bromwich Albion, who are in the market for a manager. "In my life I've gone back to an ex-girlfriend and it didn't work out," came the reply. "I'm not sure it'd be the right move." Instead the Italian's mantra was of being relaxed about the long-term future and concentrating solely on the immediate. Bayern Munich await at their own Allianz Arena on Saturday in what could be his last game in charge, Jupp Heynckes's team standing between Chelsea and a first European Cup. Di Matteo's reputation has soared over the course of his 10-week employment as caretaker. If he secures victory in Germany, he will have succeeded where many of loftier reputation came up short.
He and his players will fly to Munich on Friday morning relishing the unlikely opportunity that awaits but with the message drilled into them that their chance must be taken this time. Many of them have suffered on this grandiose stage, beaten on penalties in Moscow's sodden Luzhniki stadium in 2008 when the trophy had been within reach. Back then Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and John Terry – who has denied himself a shot at redemption with his sending-off in the semi-final – would have envisaged similar opportunities in the seasons ahead. Theirs was a team that felt in its pomp. That has served to render the long wait to make amends all the more frustrating.
"To reach a Champions League final is very, very difficult," said Di Matteo. "People talk about the older players in our side and, for some of our older players, it might be more difficult to be in another final or win it. But even the younger players do not know when or if they'll have the chance again to be in a final like this. Sometimes you think: 'Ah yes, it'll happen again.' But it's not that easy. Maybe some of our experienced players thought that four years ago and it ended up proving quite a difficult road to reach a final again. It's a massive game for the club, a game that can decide the history of our football club. It would be the first time we would have won the European Cup and you'd join an elite of clubs who have won it before. That's all that matters and what we're focusing on.
"But we have to go into it in the belief we have the quality and the experience to succeed. Personally I'd be absolutely delighted to win the Champions League trophy for this club – I'm a club person and feel very responsible – and very happy for the players. We've worked so hard to get to this point and we've tried so many times over the years to reach this goal.
"I'm not thinking about myself. I'm very relaxed about my own future. I have a big drive and a big motivation to do something extraordinary for this club. That's all I want to do. Whatever comes afterwards … well, there's always a reason why things happen."
Di Matteo's contract – signed as an assistant for André Villas-Boas last summer – expires on 30 June and he intends to "go on holiday" after Munich, regardless of the result. His tone of late has been that of a man who does not expect to be retained in a managerial capacity. Those among the hierarchy who show their faces in public have been non‑committal on his prospects while deliberations go on over whether Pep Guardiola can be persuaded to abandon plans for a year‑long sabbatical.
The Italian is, of course, not alone. Salomon Kalou and Drogba are also out of contract and on the verge of fond farewells; a decision is to be announced formally on the latter's future next week. "The club will sit down with the player and they will decide what the best outcome is," said Di Matteo, who added that any verdict would not be down to "a question of age". Regardless, this is a chance to go out on the ultimate high.
"In life you never know what's round the corner," said the Italian. "The way things have happened for me this season has been unexpected but you have to be ready when opportunities arrive. I've just tried my best to guide these players and this team to this final. I will continue to do my best until the last minute we play." Read More
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
