'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 19: Didier Drogba of Chelsea prays as his team mates look on in the penalty shoot out during UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fussball Arena München on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
On 13th June 2012, Chelsea FC appointed Roberto Di Matteo as the first team coach and the manager of the club. Having failed on his rumored pursuit to land ex-Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, Roman Abrahmovich looked no further and handed Di Matteo a 2 year contract as Chelsea manager. After leading the club to its first UEFA Champions League title in their 107 year history and their 4th FA Cup in 6 years, it was a job Di Matteo completely deserved. Having got the job as an interim manager in the first week of March, Di Matteo completely turned the fortunes of the club around. Even though failing to get the club in the top 4 spot, Di Matteo compensated for that loss with winning the UCL by beating Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties.
Trending
So where does this take Chelsea? Di Matteo knows the importance of representing this club having been part of the club as a player as well, but things were a little different back then. The level of expectation of the players, fans was very different back then when you compare it with today’s time and Di Matteo is very well aware of this fact having seen Andre Villas Boas get sacked due to poor results.
Di Matteo knows this is going to be one very tough job for him as, along with the pressure of delivering trophies and results, he has to transform this ageing side and has to bring in players that will be best suited for this club. Having seen fan favorite Didier Drogba already leave Chelsea this summer to join Shanghai Shenhua, Di Matteo now has to rely on out-of-touch Spanish striker Fernando Torres who had shown his potential in the last few league games as well as the on going EURO ’12. Players like John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda know that even their days in this club are numbered and Chelsea FC could see their golden generation finally come to an end.
Having already bagged German winger Marco Marin from Werder Bremen and Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard from Lille, surely Chelsea are moving in the right direction now. With the likes of Salomon Kalou already leaving the club and French winger Florent Malouda’s future in doubt, the 2 new signings can expect ample game time along side Spanish wizard Juan Mata, who was without doubt Chelsea’s best player last season. With Chelsea trying their best to land Brazilian attacker Hulk as well, Di Matteo could find himself with a completely new look attacking line up in Mata-Hazard-Marin-Hulk-Torres. Di Matteo could also look in to the transfer market to find a replacement for English midfielder Frank Lampard, whose time at Chelsea is nearing the finish line.
Chelsea’s defense is probably the most stable part of the team right now with Petr Cech expected to find himself between the goal posts with the likes of Cole, Terry, Cahill, Luiz, Ivanovic, Bertrand making a good defensive line. Having not renewed the contract of Jose Bosingwa in the summer, Chelsea will need to get in the transfer market to find a cover for Branislav Ivanovic with main targets being French full back Debuchy and young Spanish full back Cesar Azpiculeta.
Chelsea will have Josh Mceachran, Kevin De bruyne, Gael Kakuta back from their respective loan spells and it will be upto Di Matteo to decide whether these talented youngsters can add something to this already transformed Chelsea side.
MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 19: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with team mate Juan Mata after scoring his team’s first goal during UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fussball Arena München on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Di Matteo and Chelsea were constantly under scrutiny by the media for playing slow defensive football and using negative tactics especially against sides such as Bayern Munich and Barcelona but Di Matteo will now be looking to change things. With Chelsea owner Roman Abrahimovich himself a big fan of attacking football he will not stop in the transfer market and will do every possible thing to help Di Matteo and his staff in getiing the players the club needs.
With other title contenders such as Man United and Man City already a step ahead of Chelsea since last season Chelsea know they have to be at their best next season if they have to compete against the best in the league. With 7 trophies to play for next season – Community Shield, UEFA Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Super cup, FA Cup, Club World Cup and Capital one Cup (formerly known as Carling Cup), it is going to be a very busy season and Chelsea will have to rely heavily on their squad depth if they want the coming season to be a successful one.
