MX23RW : Wednesday, April 2 22:31:21| >> :60:1404:1404:

Roberto Di Matteo: team spirit is key to success

Di Matteo: team spirit is key
© PA Photos
Roberto Di Matteo has put his success down to his relationship with the Chelsea players.

Interim boss Roberto Di Matteo has highlighted the improved team spirit as the reason for Chelsea's recent run of form.

The attitude of the players was thought to be poor under Andre Villas-Boas, who consequently lost his job with Di Matteo taking over as caretaker manager at the beginning of March.

Di Matteo has since turned the Londoners' fortunes around and they now find themselves in the FA Cup final and have a semi-final lead going into the second leg against Barcelona in the Champions League.

"It has been pretty intense from day one because, apart from one week, we've played every three or four days," said Di Matteo.

"But that's the price of success when you manage to reach the final of the FA Cup and the semifinal of the Champions League so we're very pleased to be challenging ourselves in these competitions.

"It's important the players know the responsibility they have to the club and the supporters, and to the players themselves. A footballer's career is very short and every season you have a chance to achieve something and every year you have to try your best to do that. You don't know when there is going to be another chance for you."

Chelsea are preparing to face Barcelona on Tuesday following their goalless draw at Arsenal on Saturday.

ID:24769: cacheID:24769:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2259:
Written by
Matt Cotton
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jose Mourinho
Read Next:
Abramovich determined to land Mourinho
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal301710355253061
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest30176750351557
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham3012994440445
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd30107133741-437
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3097143350-1734
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves3085174158-1729
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!