Kamlesh Barjati
Banned
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- 26 May 2011
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Former West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo says he will have no problems working as number two.
The Italian, sacked at The Hawthorns in February despite having won promotion the previous season, was a surprise choice to work under new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Di Matteo was unveiled as part of the new backroom staff at Stamford Bridge, where he spent six successful years as a player before injury forced him to retire in 2002.
However, he insists there will be no problems with his transition stepping back to an assistant role rather than the head coach.
"It is obviously a challenge for me but I don't anticipate any problems," Di Matteo told the club's official website.
"I have got experience of being a manager, I know what it is like, and I know what it is to be a coach, so I have a bit of both and I am there to support Andre and any of the staff, to give what it takes for us to be successful. That's the ultimate challenge."
Di Matteo admitted it was an unexpected opportunity.
"His call came a bit out of the blue to be honest," said the 41-year-old, who also had an impressive stint as MK Dons manager.
"It is mostly based on the fact that he likes my football philosophy and that is why he wants me to be part of his team.
"I think he likes to play football and be positive and attacking and over the years if you have seen a game or two of the teams I coached I think we played the same way.
"I liked my teams to try and win games rather than not lose, to build, to pass.
"He is going to be in charge of it and we are going to be working the way he thinks is the right way to be successful."
Chelsea players return to Cobham for the start of pre-season training this week, with new boss Villas-Boas maintaining there would be no immediate transfers or new arrivals until he had time to fully assess the current group.
Having cancelled a match against Vitesse Arnhem at the request of Villas-Boas, the Blues will go to Portsmouth for their first official warm-up fixture on 16th July before then travelling to the Far East ahead of the Barclays Asia Trophy.
Chelsea take on Hong Kong champions Kitchee on 27th July with Blackburn Rovers meeting Aston Villa in the other tie in the 40,000 capacity Hong Kong Stadium.
The winners meet in the final on 30th July, preceded by a third-place play-off. Click here for ticket details.
Follow Chelsea in the run up to the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong this July on the official tournament page www.facebook.com/BarclaysAsiaTrophy
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2386105,00.html
The Italian, sacked at The Hawthorns in February despite having won promotion the previous season, was a surprise choice to work under new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Di Matteo was unveiled as part of the new backroom staff at Stamford Bridge, where he spent six successful years as a player before injury forced him to retire in 2002.
However, he insists there will be no problems with his transition stepping back to an assistant role rather than the head coach.
"It is obviously a challenge for me but I don't anticipate any problems," Di Matteo told the club's official website.
"I have got experience of being a manager, I know what it is like, and I know what it is to be a coach, so I have a bit of both and I am there to support Andre and any of the staff, to give what it takes for us to be successful. That's the ultimate challenge."
Di Matteo admitted it was an unexpected opportunity.
"His call came a bit out of the blue to be honest," said the 41-year-old, who also had an impressive stint as MK Dons manager.
"It is mostly based on the fact that he likes my football philosophy and that is why he wants me to be part of his team.
"I think he likes to play football and be positive and attacking and over the years if you have seen a game or two of the teams I coached I think we played the same way.
"I liked my teams to try and win games rather than not lose, to build, to pass.
"He is going to be in charge of it and we are going to be working the way he thinks is the right way to be successful."
Chelsea players return to Cobham for the start of pre-season training this week, with new boss Villas-Boas maintaining there would be no immediate transfers or new arrivals until he had time to fully assess the current group.
Having cancelled a match against Vitesse Arnhem at the request of Villas-Boas, the Blues will go to Portsmouth for their first official warm-up fixture on 16th July before then travelling to the Far East ahead of the Barclays Asia Trophy.
Chelsea take on Hong Kong champions Kitchee on 27th July with Blackburn Rovers meeting Aston Villa in the other tie in the 40,000 capacity Hong Kong Stadium.
The winners meet in the final on 30th July, preceded by a third-place play-off. Click here for ticket details.
Follow Chelsea in the run up to the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong this July on the official tournament page www.facebook.com/BarclaysAsiaTrophy
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2386105,00.html
