After being named the permanent manager at Chelsea, Roberto Di Matteo is already planning to build on last season’s success in the upcoming term.
Following the sacking of young Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas in March, the Italian was given charge of the club as the interim manager. He did surprisingly well, leading Chelsea to the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in what had been labelled
their worst season since Roman Abramovich’s takeover.
He has had to waste no time wooing the fans, some of who still remember his heroics from his days at Chelsea as a player. That combined with the fact that he delivered two coveted trophies in half a season had definitely played in his advantage.
Di Matteo said in an interview:
“I'm obviously delighted to have been appointed as manager and first-team coach. We all achieved incredible success last season that made history for this great club. Our aim is to continue building on that and I'm already planning and looking forward
to the squad's return for pre-season.”
Di Matteo signs a two year contract with the Blues, when it was initially expected that he would only be given a year’s deal. The former West Bromwich Albion boss revealed he intended to build on last season’s success and was already looking forward to pre-season
training.
Meanwhile, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay revealed giving Roberto Di Matteo the position of manager and head-coach had been a no brainer. He felt the former Chelsea player had done well to prove himself in such a short period of time and definitely
deserved to be given the job on a more permanent basis.
Gourlay claimed:
“We all believed he was a young coach with much to offer when we first asked him to take charge of team affairs in March and the manner in which he worked with us, the players and all the staff, and the success that followed, made him the clear choice
when it came to selecting the person to take us forward in the seasons to come.”
The fact that the Blues now have a permanent manager will definitely attract players, who were previously hesitant in joining the London side.