Di Matteo maintains Champions League hope

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo says his side must win all their remaining games in order to seal Champions League qualification.

Di Matteo’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at west London rivals Fulham on Monday, leaving them two points away from the final Champions League qualifying spot held by Tottenham.

And the 41-year-old Di Matteo believes his side have the quality to ensure they have a say in the fight to make Europe’s premier club competition.

“We are closer to 4th spot now than we were. We were always playing catchup,” Di Matteo told reporters.

“The situation was difficult from the start. We have to look at it positively and we are closer now.

“We have a good squad. We have a squad full of good players and we will utilise them to sustain our challenge.

“We just have to try and win as many points as we can. When you play catch-up the pressure is always on and we are one point closer – that’s how I see it.

“You can’t write off Newcastle as they are winning games so it’s definitely three teams. There’s a little gap there. Fourth spot is important for us.”

The Italian also rued the manner in which his side threw away their lead at Craven Cottage despite them failing to muster chances to score a second.

“The biggest disappointment is that we were leading for so long and conceded just before the end of the game,” he said.

“Playing Fulham in a derby, away, is always difficult and they proved difficult opposition today.

“We couldn’t quite get the second goal. We didn’t pose enough threat to kill the game off. It’s been a problem but we put in a big effort to win the game and the biggest disappointment is the late goal.

“Conceding late goals has been a pattern this season, 1-0 is always a shaky result.”

Fulham boss Martin Jol said his side were unlucky not to collect all three points from the match.

The Cottagers enjoyed the better of the play but fell behind to a controversial Frank Lampard penalty, before a late Clint Dempsey goal meant the match finished level.

When asked if he believed his side deserved to win, Jol told reporters: “I think so. It was our second game in a couple days, they made six changes and we made two.

“In the first half we caused them real problems. The penalty decision was soft and it was a bad time to concede. We always believed and we played some good stuff.

“We have had two good draws against them in similar style and we did the same today. We showed very good character.”

The 56-year-old backed his former side Tottenham to grab a Champions League spot despite losing 2-1 at home to Norwich.

He said: “I think Spurs will finish in the top four because they have all the quality. They showed it today and they will show it again.”