Di Matteo confident of Chelsea rebound

Roberto Di Matteo said that Chelsea can still have a successful season despite the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas.

The Italian has taken over the managerial reins for the rest of the season, with his first assignment on Tuesday a trip to Birmingham City for their FA Cup fifth-round replay.

Chelsea face an uphill battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while also needing to overturn a 3-1 reverse in the second leg of their last-16 tie against Napoli to reach the quarter-finals this term.

“Our duty now is to look forward and to try to get the results that we need in the league, the Champions League and in the FA Cup to have a good season,” Di Matteo told Chelsea’s official website.

“It has been a very difficult 24 hours for a lot of people at the football club.”

“Andre has brought some very good, positive ideas and changes to this football club and we will benefit from his changes.”

“I enjoyed very much working with him and we will remain friends for the rest of our lives, but I will have to move on for this club and try my best with the players we have here.”

The Italian took charge of his first training session on Monday, assisted by another former Blues man Eddie Newton, who has come in to support the coaching staff.

“Today I have mostly spoken to the players individually to try to get them in the right frame of mind for the task ahead and that is our job now,” he added.

“Eddie knows the club and many of the players. I have worked with him for many years and it was easy for him to slot in for us and give us a hand until the end of the season.”

“He is a Chelsea man and I want some passion from people who care about this club, and this is one of our jobs as well, to transmit that to the team.”

“Eddie worked with me for three years and we will exchange opinion and discuss and we have a very similar view of how we think the team should play.”

“It is good to have the people that have the knowledge and the experience, that have played in the Premier League, and Eddie was with me working in the Premier League last season.”