Roberto Di Matteo took centre stage on Friday in the pre match press conference in place of Andre Villas-Boas and took questions about the possible deal for Gary Cahill, rumours of Frank Lampard's future and responded to Sir Alex Ferguson ruling Chelsea out of the title race.
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Speaking to the media today, Roberto Di Matteo explained the significance of the League Cup and just how important it can be before our quarter final clash with Liverpool tomorrow night. Back in the day, a certain Jose Mourinho, after winning the title in his first season, explained just how much of a part winning the league cup played in giving the side confidence.

Much of the focus of Bobby Di Matteo's appearance in front of the press before Liverpool tomorrow is about his future. There has been speculation of late that clubs had been interested in speaking to him with a view to becoming their manager (...and Leicester to mention one).
Di Matteo was keen to emphasise how happy he is here in the club he calls his home.

Much of the focus of Bobby Di Matteo's appearance in front of the press before Liverpool tomorrow is about his future. There has been speculation of late that clubs had been interested in speaking to him with a view to becoming their manager (...and Leicester to mention one).
Di Matteo was keen to emphasise how happy he is here in the club he calls his home.

Just why are so many managers in football unemployed and out of work at the moment. Could be that the financial crisis is effecting managers too? Or is it simply because they are bidding their time, before going back into the big time job. This article is going to look at all these reasons and [...

West Brom
League Position: 13th, 3W, 2D, 5L, 9 GF, 13 GA, -4GD, 11 pts
Away Form: 2W, 1D, 2L, 6 GF, 8 GA, 7 pts
Last Meeting West Brom 2-2 Arsenal

We return to the Emirates tomorrow to welcome an old fiend, West Bromwich Alvion, now headed by Liverpool legend Roy Hodgson.

I think it's safe to say that none of us would have expected AVB to appoint Roberto Di Matteo the Chelsea legend as his assistant manager this summer. After all we had all known that Di Matteo had made the step up to managing MK Dons first of all and then had done fantastically well to get West Brom promoted back into the Premier League at his first attempt.

Players returned to Cobham for preseason training today. Say it with me: Finally.

The boys met with the new coaching staff, then got to work. After the jump, check out some assorted pics of the session. It looks like it went well very well indeed.

El jefe

Twenty-four players surfaced for our first training season of the preseason, after some 44 days of vacation.

When Roy Hodgson was given the heave-ho by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, not many questioned the decision. There was a feeling that Hodgson may not have been given a fair crack of the whip, but it also felt as if it was in his own best interests to get out.

The relationship between Liverpool FC and Hodgson had irretrievably broken down.

Cagliari bello a met Di Matteo Opisso Nella domenica pomeriggio della trentaduesima giornata il Cagliari non va oltre l'1-1 contro il Brescia. Al Sant'Elia i rossoblù vanno in vantaggio con Cossu, sprecano più volte la palla del definitivo ko e vengono raggiunti dalla zampata di Caracciolo. Ancora privo di Nenè, Donadoni si affida alle inventiva di Lazzari e Cossu a supporto di Acquafresca e da

L'uragano Udinese si abbatte sul Cagliari Di Matteo Opisso L'Udinese formato Champions sbanca anche il Sant'Elia di Cagliari. Gli uomini di Donadoni reggono per quaranta minuti, poi i friulani dilagano con i gol di Benatia, Sanchez e la doppietta del solito Di Natale. Donadoni, privo di Biondini (squalificato) e Nenè (infortunato), sceglie Ragatzu per affiancare Acquafresca in avanti.

Cagliari raggiunto allo scadere dal Bologna Di Matteo Opisso Il Cagliari porta via da Bologna un punto agrodolce, i felsinei raggiungono allo scadere i sardi con Ramirez. Dopo il rigore di Di Vaio i rossoblù sfoderano un gran secondo tempo, e vanno a segno con Cossu e Ragatzu prima di essere raggiunti allo scadere.

Il Cagliari cala il poker, Chievo ko Di Matteo Opisso In gol Conti e Canini, poi si scatena Nenè (doppietta). Thereu sigla il gol della bandiera. Vince il Cagliari, anzi stravince, piegando con un secco 4-1 il Chievo. Nel venticinquesimo turno del campionato di serie A, al Sant'Elia, i ragazzi di Donadoni tornano alla vittoria.

Roy Hodgson confirmed as the successor to Di Matteo at the Hawthorns.

The man was a complete flop for Liverpool, however here's hoping he does well at his new job. Personally I believe Hodgson simply could not hack it at Liverpool due to the high demand and pressure for silverware. Granted he has done time with Inter Milan (twice) - an internationally renowned club, however the Premier League is a whole different kettle of fish to the Italian Serie A.

Here's an interesting (and perhaps useless) factoid of the day. Don't know how and why I missed this last summer, but I was astonished to read just today about the huge discrepancy in the numbers of highly qualified coaches across European soccer nations, and in particular England's relative and absolute backwardness.

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