Roberto Di Matteo may get the Chelsea job after all

If you cut Roberto Di Matteo, he bleeds blue. Former team mate Gus Poyet says “I call him one of us, one of our generation.” Poyet then goes on to urge Roman Abramovich to give Di Matteo the job of Chelsea manager.

The list of Chelsea players from that era who have become successful managers is astonishing. Mark Hughes, Vialli, Gullit, Deschamps, Petrescu, Ferrer, Dennis Wise, Di Matteo are all mentioned by Poyet as having had success to some extent, and Poyet himself has not done too badly.

It appears that Abramovich is about to give Di Matteo the chance that many Chelsea fans, and the players, think he deserves, according to the Daily Mail. The Chelsea owner seems to have failed to persuade Pep Guardiola to cut short his break from football and so is ready to offer the 42-year old Italian the position.

It remains to be seen how long a contract will be put on the table. The general consensus in the media is that Abramovich is determined to get Guardiola at some point and so may be putting a manager in place for just one season. If Di Matteo can have a similar impact this coming season as he did in the last one, he will give the Russian something to think about.

Di Matteo does have a habit of success. He scored the winning goal against Middlesborough on his debut for Chelsea. He scored goals in two FA cup finals and one League cup final as Chelsea won all three. His management career at MK Dons, West Brom and now Chelsea has been similarly blessed.

After scoring the only goal of the game in the 2000 FA cup final at Wembley, he said “It’s a shame they are tearing the old place down, it’s been very lucky for me.” People say Chelsea were lucky to win both the FA cup and the Champion’s league this year. Well I, for one, will take that kind of luck every year.

It might have been good to get Guardiola, but I don’t think anyone will be disappointed if Roberto Di Matteo is at the helm at the start of next season.