Hours after Chelsea suffered a 3-0 loss to Juventus, which pushed them close the brink of the Champions League elimination, the club did what was best for them – to make heads roll. Following the defeat, the club announced that they have sacked Italian manager Roberto Di Matteo.
As merciless as it may sound, it was a decision that was made based on a string of poor results. First announced via Twitter (and therefore shocked the world of English football fans), the club released an official statement afterwards that read:
Chelsea football club has parted company this morning with manager Roberto Di Matteo. The team’s recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season.
The club faces a difficult task ahead in qualifying for the knockout stages of the Uefa Champions League as well as maintaining a strong challenge for the top of the Premier League while competing in three other cup competitions. Our aim is to remain as competitive as possible and challenge strongly on all fronts.
The owner and the board would like to thank Roberto for all he has done for the club since taking over in March. Roberto helped guide us to an historic Champions League victory and a seventh FA Cup. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to this club’s history and he will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge.
The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager.
(Source)
As quickly as Di Matteo’s reign went up in smoke, Chelsea FC almost immediately confirmed the signing of a new manager. And it’s none other than two-time Uefa Manager of the Year, 52-year-old Spaniard Rafael Benitez.
Rafael spent six years at Liverpool and led them to their fifth European Cup and FA Cup, and obviously has significant experience at the highest level of football. As interim first-team manager of Chelsea until the end of the season, he is to immediately help the team deliver what should’ve been delivered a long time ago.
And by immediate, we mean he is due to meet the players at the Cobham training ground in just a couple of hours. Well, that was quick. Just another day in the office eh, Chelsea FC?
For more information, visit Chelsea FC’s official website.
