Geronimo
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- Jul 25, 2009
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http://www.sportinglife.com/footbal..._Chelsea_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=soccer&BID=165
Roberto Di Matteo insists he has no problem with John Terry or any other Chelsea player barking orders from the bench.
Accusations of player power at Stamford Bridge emerged again on Wednesday night when Blues captain Terry was pictured urging Michael Essien to drop back into defence during the club's thrilling Champions League triumph over Napoli.
That came just 24 hours after Terry had branded claims he and other senior stars ran the dressing room as "complete nonsense".
But rather than blow a fuse when quizzed about the matter - as sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas might have done - caretaker boss Di Matteo could not have been more relaxed about the prospect of his players having some input from the touchline.
"I've had a long playing career myself at the highest level," the former Chelsea midfielder and West Brom boss said.
"I've been coaching for some years now as well and I expect everybody to be involved and everybody to help each other on the pitch and the ones that are on the bench, and that's what I believe in."
Di Matteo drew the line at inviting Terry into his inner sanctum, despite the defender's desire to manage Chelsea when he hangs up his boots.
"I think he's still too young for that," Di Matteo said.
"I can help him with his coaching badges maybe first!
"But he's got so many years ahead of him playing and I would always recommend to any players to play as long as they can, because that's the best part of a footballing career."
Asked if Terry was a potential manager, Di Matteo added: "I don't know because, when I was playing, I watched around myself and it's really difficult to see who is actually going to become one or not.
"It depends how life goes and what events happen in your life."
The Italian's attitude to Terry's input highlights what appears to be a less dictatorial approach all round than that under Villas-Boas, whose fractious relationship with some his players was one of the factors in his downfall.
Di Matteo's remarkable rescue act, which has inspired a hat-trick of wins, has also seen more comparisons drawn between what is happening now and what occurred when Guus Hiddink was parachuted in to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2009.
Villas-Boas' sacking prompted Scolari to declare "hell" awaited the Portuguese's successor, but asked to sum up managing Chelsea after almost a fortnight in charge, Di Matteo said: "Interesting, exciting, fantastic so far."
Eddie Newton, who Di Matteo appointed to his coaching team when Villas-Boas left, admitted on Wednesday he would find it impossible to turn down an invitation to stay on beyond the end of the season.
Di Matteo once again refused to be drawn on his own desire to succeed Villas-Boas full-time and also declined to comment on whether he and the Portuguese were still in touch.
"That's my private life, which I don't want to really talk about," he said.
Chelsea's win over Napoli was not all positive, with the club now facing the prospect of a serious fixture pile-up.
That will worsen if they are taken to a replay in their FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester, who they host on Sunday.
It could mean a run of five games in 12 days and nine in 23.
Di Matteo said: "It's going to be difficult. As it is, it's very congested already."
He added: "Luckily, we have everybody fit, the whole squad, and we will need everybody.
"It's difficult for some games to leave certain players out but we have such an intense schedule that it's great to be in a position like this."
Di Matteo would not be drawn on how many changes he would make on Sunday but it could be nine or 10.
He said: "We obviously have to take into consideration that we played extra-time on Wednesday.
"We'll try to put out the strongest team that we have available on Sunday to win the game."
Roberto Di Matteo insists he has no problem with John Terry or any other Chelsea player barking orders from the bench.
Accusations of player power at Stamford Bridge emerged again on Wednesday night when Blues captain Terry was pictured urging Michael Essien to drop back into defence during the club's thrilling Champions League triumph over Napoli.
That came just 24 hours after Terry had branded claims he and other senior stars ran the dressing room as "complete nonsense".
But rather than blow a fuse when quizzed about the matter - as sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas might have done - caretaker boss Di Matteo could not have been more relaxed about the prospect of his players having some input from the touchline.
"I've had a long playing career myself at the highest level," the former Chelsea midfielder and West Brom boss said.
"I've been coaching for some years now as well and I expect everybody to be involved and everybody to help each other on the pitch and the ones that are on the bench, and that's what I believe in."
Di Matteo drew the line at inviting Terry into his inner sanctum, despite the defender's desire to manage Chelsea when he hangs up his boots.
"I think he's still too young for that," Di Matteo said.
"I can help him with his coaching badges maybe first!
"But he's got so many years ahead of him playing and I would always recommend to any players to play as long as they can, because that's the best part of a footballing career."
Asked if Terry was a potential manager, Di Matteo added: "I don't know because, when I was playing, I watched around myself and it's really difficult to see who is actually going to become one or not.
"It depends how life goes and what events happen in your life."
The Italian's attitude to Terry's input highlights what appears to be a less dictatorial approach all round than that under Villas-Boas, whose fractious relationship with some his players was one of the factors in his downfall.
Di Matteo's remarkable rescue act, which has inspired a hat-trick of wins, has also seen more comparisons drawn between what is happening now and what occurred when Guus Hiddink was parachuted in to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2009.
Villas-Boas' sacking prompted Scolari to declare "hell" awaited the Portuguese's successor, but asked to sum up managing Chelsea after almost a fortnight in charge, Di Matteo said: "Interesting, exciting, fantastic so far."
Eddie Newton, who Di Matteo appointed to his coaching team when Villas-Boas left, admitted on Wednesday he would find it impossible to turn down an invitation to stay on beyond the end of the season.
Di Matteo once again refused to be drawn on his own desire to succeed Villas-Boas full-time and also declined to comment on whether he and the Portuguese were still in touch.
"That's my private life, which I don't want to really talk about," he said.
Chelsea's win over Napoli was not all positive, with the club now facing the prospect of a serious fixture pile-up.
That will worsen if they are taken to a replay in their FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester, who they host on Sunday.
It could mean a run of five games in 12 days and nine in 23.
Di Matteo said: "It's going to be difficult. As it is, it's very congested already."
He added: "Luckily, we have everybody fit, the whole squad, and we will need everybody.
"It's difficult for some games to leave certain players out but we have such an intense schedule that it's great to be in a position like this."
Di Matteo would not be drawn on how many changes he would make on Sunday but it could be nine or 10.
He said: "We obviously have to take into consideration that we played extra-time on Wednesday.
"We'll try to put out the strongest team that we have available on Sunday to win the game."
