Game over: Di Matteo has been sacked, six months after
landing the Champions League
Chelsea Football Club has
parted company this morning with Manager Roberto Di
Matteo.
The team's recent
performances and results have not been good enough and the owner
and the Board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club
moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important
part of the season.
The club faces a difficult
task ahead in qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA
Champions League as well as maintaining a strong challenge for the
top of the Premier League while competing in three other cup
competitions. Our aim is to remain as competitive as possible and
challenge strongly on all fronts.
The owner and the Board
would like to thank Roberto for all he has done for the club since
taking over in March. Roberto helped guide us to an historic
Champions League victory and a seventh FA Cup. We will never forget
the huge contribution he has made to this club's history and he
will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge.
The club will be making an
announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager.
Roman Abramovich fired Roberto Di Matteo this
morning after an 'unacceptable' run of results.
The Chelsea owner, furious with the club's disastrous
Champions League campaign, sacked him this morning just hours after
their 3-0 defeat at Juventus.
Chelsea executives met at Stamford Bridge to tell Di
Matteo that his reign was over just six months after leading them
to glory in the European Cup.
Abramovich's No 1 target is former Barcelona boss Pep
Guardiola, but the Blues owner needs to persuade him to end his
year-long sabbatical from football. If he fails in this bid, he
will turn to Rafa Benitez to take the helm.
Guardiola is spending time in Manhattan with his family
after four years in charge at the Nou Camp and is the Russian's top
target to take over.
Sources close to the 41-year-old say it will take a
'phenomenal' offer for the manager to change his mind.
However, it is understood Guardiola's advisers are willing
to begin negotiations with prospective employers ahead of next
season.
Discreet enquires from Chelsea, City and Milan have
already taken place, with all three clubs keen to steal a march on
their rivals in the race to land the talented manager.
Benitez is understood to be willing to take the job until
the end of the season. This is despite turning down a similar offer
last season after Andre Villas-Boas was sacked.
The former Liverpool and Inter Milan boss is addressing a
conference in Abu Dhabi today and is scheduled to fly back into
London tomorrow.
Abramovich was furious that the team, who started the
season with the chance to win seven trophies, are already in
freefall.
Although he was prepared to overlook the Community Shield
defeat against Manchester City, he was furious with the 4-1 defeat
against Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup.
Abramovich’s circle made it clear that they had to play
seven games to 'qualify' for the Community shield and that it
should be treated seriously.
Down and out? Chelsea were soundly beaten by Juventus
in the Champions League last night
Likewise the 4-1 defeat against Atletico in Monaco
came after they won the Champions League final against Bayern
Munich and they wanted to win it.
Chelsea need a miracle to qualify from Group E of the
Champions League and are in danger of becoming the first holders in
the history of the competition to go out in the group
phase.
They are four points behind this weekend’s opponents
Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League and cannot afford
another defeat after last week’s 2-1 loss at West
Bromwich.
Guus Hiddink 105
days
Felipe Scolari 223 days
Avram Grand 247 days
Andre Villas-Boas 256 days
Roberto Di Matteo 262
days
Who's next? Guardiola and Benitez are in the frame to
take the helm at Stamford Bridge
A Chelsea spokesman said: ‘Chelsea Football Club
has parted company this morning with manager Roberto Di
Matteo.
‘The team's recent performances and results have not been
good enough and the owner and the Board felt that a change was
necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we
head into a vitally important part of the season.
‘The club faces a difficult task ahead in qualifying for
the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as well as
maintaining a strong challenge for the top of the Premier League
while competing in three other cup competitions. Our aim is to
remain as competitive as possible and challenge strongly on all
fronts.
‘The owner and the Board would like to thank Roberto for
all he has done for the club since taking over in March. Roberto
helped guide us to an historic Champions League victory and a
seventh FA Cup.
'We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to
this club's history and he will always be welcome at Stamford
Bridge.
‘The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding
a new first team manager.’
