No one likes us, we don't care: Di Matteo's not in it for the love at Chelsea
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UPDATED:
21:54 GMT, 30 September 2012
Roberto di Matteo is not seeking adoration. 'When you're a winning team, you're never loved,' he said after victory at Arsenal but it might be time for some appreciation.
Di Matteo cleared his first serious test of the new campaign at the Emirates and, despite the turbulence of John Terry's disciplinary hearing, he did it with minimum fuss.
Just as he did when passing last season's big tests: Barcelona in the Nou Camp, Tottenham or Liverpool at Wembley, or Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.
Winning feeling: Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has a good record from his time in charge at the club
Di Matteo flies to Denmark on Monday ahead of his 30th competitive game in charge of Chelsea, against Nordsjaelland in the Champions League on Tuesday, having barely put a foot wrong.
Ignore the glorified friendlies of the FA Community Shield and the UEFA Super Cup and he has lost three games in seven months.
One was a tight contest at Manchester City, there was a home game against Newcastle when resting key players, three days before the FA Cup final, and a hammering at Liverpool with a reserve team as he prepared for the Champions League final.
Seven draws include one at Barcelona with 10 men and one against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final won on penalties.
Chelsea top the Barclays Premier League having dropped two points from six games yet the surrender of a two-goal lead to Italian champions Juventus triggered an impromptu training ground visit from owner Roman Abramovich.
Fresh: Fernando Torres says he is not in need of a break
It was a reminder of exactly how precarious Di Matteo remains while Pep Guardiola is out of work.
What manager wouldn't want the burden of expectation which comes with a front-four of Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard, priced in excess of 125million But he continues to make awkward decisions look easy.
In public, Di Matteo's poker-face refuses to crack. In private, he and his coaching team successfully cajole most of the precious and insecure egos at the club and get the best from them.
Terry started at the Emirates despite all the attention and performed well. Torres looked motivated, committed and scored his fourth in nine this season.
Frank Lampard sat on the bench at the Emirates because Chelsea wanted the mobility of Ramires in the deep midfield areas where Arsenal inflict most damage.
Attack: Torres thinks all the creative players can be deployed at once
'First, you have to press Arsenal and make sure they don't get the kind of freedom they like to play,' said Di Matteo. 'Also, you need to keep the ball and create chances for yourself. We did that very, very well.” Santi Cazorla was more subdued than usual although Chelsea were helped out by Petr Cech and some poor finishing, notably Cazorla and Olivier Giroud in the closing stages.
When Andre Villas-Boas tried to assert changes like these he created friction but Di Matteo has taken the players with him. It is the art of management.
Rather than grumble about Mata's desire to play in Euro 2012 and then the Olympic Games, he gave him a two-week's off in September.
Mata looks refreshed and his dead-ball delivery created both goals at Arsenal. Wenger's team defended poorly but Di Matteo targeted a weakness successfully.
In form: Juan Mata played a key role in Chelsea's win over Arsenal
'I think every player would like to play every game,” said goalkeeper Cech. “The important thing is to have Juan Mata for the whole season, not for three months and then to see him burn.
'It was well done by the coaching staff. He had a nice break and now he's fit and ready and can last the whole season. That's exactly what we needed.' All this from a manager who landed in the job somewhat by accident but what is to stop Di Matteo becoming Chelsea's own Guardiola He is relatively young, ambitious, with a good tactical brain and he understands his club and its culture.
More crucially for Abramovich, he has adapted smoothly to the peculiarities of the Stamford Bridge recruitment system where players are identified and acquired at an executive level.
He quietly manages talent provided for him, while helping to improve young players like Ryan Bertrand, another demand of the Chelsea hierarchy.
A more established manager would have demanded more power and input and, over time, Di Matteo may do the same. If he survives to that point he will deserve it.
'We're only six games into a very long season,' said Di Matteo.
'We've had a good start and that's all. The time to judge is when we're coming towards the half-way stage of the season.'
It is true, greater examinations lie ahead. Terry will be banned for four games and what happens if Chelsea lose Torres to injury or suspension
Can Daniel Sturridge, out with a hamstring injury, contribute as a centre-forward And can Cech, who is managing an elbow problem which will require surgery, maintain his fitness
All the time, Di Matteo must work towards the ultimate goal of make Chelsea successful, entertaining and popular, even if he thinks it is an impossible dream.
'Teams that win trophies have never been loved in the history of football,' said Di Matteo.
'Barcelona is great, yeah, but it's a unique model that nobody has been able to replicate in the world, so far.'
