Di Matteo compares old job to ex-girlfriend

Manager focused on Chelsea commitments

By Zain Alvi | 16th May 2012

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has reiterated his complete focus on this Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich by rubbishing reports of a return to manage West Bromwich Albion.

Di Matteo was relieved of his duties at West Brom last February, only six months into his first season managing in the English top flight.

He has since been an instrumental piece during Chelsea’s eventful 2011-12 campaign, going from Andre Villas-Boas’ assistant to the club’s interim manager following the sacking of AVB in March.

Having guided the Blues to FA Cup glory less than two weeks ago and staring at the prospect of delivering the first ever Champions League title in the club’s history on Saturday, Di Matteo has quickly become a man in demand.

Yet, his Chelsea future remains very much undecided, which has led to speculation that he could also return to The Hawthorns to replace the recently appointed England manager Roy Hodgson.

For his part, the Italian has been quick to reject such suggestions, comparing a WBA return to the risk of embracing one’s ex-girlfriend after a break-up.

“In my life, I’ve gone back to an ex-girlfriend and it didn’t work out,” Di Matteo told reporters with a laid back approach.

In discussing the clash with Bayern at Munich’s Allianz Arena, Di Matteo indicated that he is open to managing in Germany in the future.

“I like the Bundesliga. I like the German people. I grew up in Switzerland so it’s very close, culturally, to Germany,” the manager explained.

Moving on to a more serious discussion of his commitment to Chelsea’s cause, RDM asserted: ‘”I don’t think about myself. What is at stake is we have a chance to bring the European title home for the first time in this club’s history, and that’s all that is important.

“This game can decide the history of our football club. You would join an elite of clubs who have won it before.

“We have to go into it with the knowledge we have the quality and experience to win it. I have a big drive and a big motivation to do something extraordinary for this club,” he concluded.