Di Matteo – I loved Chelsea, but I'm West Brom now!

The ex-Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo had some fantastic times at Stamford Bridge as a player, but he doesn’t live in the past and only wants to concentrate on being successful with West Brom this season.

Di Matteo won many medals with Chelsea, including an FA Cup medal when he scored the fastest goal ever in the Final, but he doesn’t even keep them at home. “My father has all my medals. I’m not the kind of person to keep those sorts of things.” he said.

“I don’t have any Chelsea memorabilia in my house. I try to look to the present and future, rather than to the past. I can’t change the past, but I can change the future.

“It’s difficult to say which is my fondest memory. I had such a lot of great times there.

“The trophies we won, the Cup Winners’ Cup, the European Super Cup against Real Madrid was a great experience too. It was a good time. John Terry was coming through the ranks and was training with us. It’s a long time ago.

“But you could see he had some talent, hunger and ambition. At that stage it was difficult to see him as a captain, but you could see there was something in the building.

“It’s a long time ago and part of my past. I have great memories. But I’m going back there as West Brom manager. We want to get rid of this reputation of being a yo-yo club.

“It is my personal aim, it is the team’s aim, the club’s aim and the fans’ aim. I want to believe and think we can stay up and remain up. Clubs of our size have done it.”

I wish Roberto every success this season, as long as he doesn’t mind getting beaten today at Chelsea!