Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo pleased with start but wary of tough run
Chelsea's Roberto Di Matteo admits he is pleased with his side's start to the season but is wary of a tough run of games to come
Roberto Di Matteo admits he has been delighted by Chelsea’s “excellent” start to the season – but is refusing to get carried away with a crucial run of fixtures looming large.
The west Londoners are top of the Premier League table after seven games, having won six and draw one of their opening encounters.
The Blues also top Champions League Group E after two games – and the Chelsea boss has been left satisfied with his side’s positive start to the season.
“I was hoping for a good start and the response we got from the players was excellent,” Di Matteo told Chelsea’s website. “Every win brings that positive mood into the camp, and helps build momentum.
“Pre-season was a little disrupted by the Euros and the Olympic Games and the players coming back at different dates, so we didn’t have a full or normal pre-season programme, so we were very pleased to go into the league and start well. We felt we needed a good start, but that’s all it is, a good start.”
Chelsea embark on a difficult run of fixtures after the international break, with a trip to Andre Villas-Boas’s Tottenham on Saturday before an away Champions League clash at Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Londoners then face a back-to-back league and Capital One Cup double-header against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
“If you look at our fixture list it is very demanding and packed for a long time, so undoubtedly there will be time and space for everybody to play and show their qualities,” Di Matteo continued.
“‘We have Tottenham and Manchester United to come, with Shakhtar Donetsk in between so it’s a big period coming up.
“Hopefully, when this international break is over, all the players come back in good health and we can start again.”
