No regrets for Di Matteo

Roberto Di Matteo revealed he is ‘happy’ with life after being sacked by West Brom last season.

The Italian was dumped as manager at the Hawthorns in February after West Brom slumped to the edge of the English Premier League relegation zone, despite having led the club back into the top flight the previous season.

After a break away from the game, he was sought out by new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas to be a part of his coaching staff, and Di Matteo said he was enjoying life at Stamford Bridge.

“About seven months ago, I was sitting eighth in the table, we had had a very good Christmas and people were asking me, ‘where do you see yourself in two years? In a big job?’. But by February I was on a beach somewhere and out of a job,” Di Matteo said.

“I’m quite happy that I left because I would not have otherwise had the chance to come here (to Chelsea), so life somehow always turns out well.”

“I did very well at West Brom considering what our target was at the time. The footballing industry recognised that and I guess that is one of the reasons I am sitting here today.”

“I’ve experienced being a manager and I would love one day to do it again. But I wasn’t expecting to be here today so God knows what’s around the corner.”

At 33, Villas-Boas is the youngest manager in the English Premier League, with many pundits questioning his ability to lead one of the top sides.

But Di Matteo, who made 119 appearance for Chelsea as a player, backed the Portuguese to be a success despite his lack of experience.

“Andre’s only managed for a couple of years, but he has been around clubs for 15 years,” he said.

“He’s been in dressing rooms and around players, so he knows very well how to manage them. He speaks five languages like that, it’s amazing how he switches, and he knows what he is doing. I don’t see any problems.”

“We understood each other straightaway, and it’s been a very natural relationship. Our football ideologies were the same and it is something that we have not had to work on. It feels like we have known each other for 30 years.”

“We work very well together and there is a good spirit within the whole of the backroom staff. We have very defined roles and we support each other. He’s very determined, he’s very driven and I don’t think he sees me as a threat for one second.”