Loss to Juve leaves Chelsea on the brink of becoming the first European Cup holders to fail to reach the Champions League’s knock-out phase
From Martin Lipton in Turin
Roberto Di Matteo took the blame for the Champions League disaster that leave him Chelsea’s dead man walking.
Di Matteo is set for the axe after the humiliating defeat that leaves the Blues on the brink of becoming the first holders not to make the knock-out round.
The Italian dug a deeper hole for himself by leaving out £50million flop Fernando Torres only for Chelsea to be shot down by goals from Fabio Quagliarella, Arturo Vidal and Sebastian Geovinco.
That leaves Chelsea needing Juventus to lose in Donetsk next month.
Emerging to talk to the media after a 45-minute dressing-room inquest, Di Matteo conceded: “I’m responsible for the result. I’m responsible for the performance.
“It’s a negative evening for us. If anyone has to take the blame, it’s me.
“I selected a team I was convinced was the right team to win against Juventus, or get at least a draw, so the blame belongs to me.”
Roman Abramovich will now step up his quest to lure former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola back into football from his sabbatical in New York, with ex-Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez the fall-back option.
Defeat by Manchester City would surely spell the end for Di Matteo, although he added: “At the moment, I think, with the team we are all in it together.
“I’m responsible for the results. At the moment I am here and I think I will be for the future.
“It’s probably not a question you should ask me but, as far as I’m concerned, I’ll keep working.”
Asked to explain his massive call on Torres, Di Matteo said: “I was convinced it was the right selection which is why I decided that.
“I didn’t want to give the centre-backs any point of reference. I’d rather have Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata interchanging positions and trying to find the space.
“We did create some problems for them. The first goal was fortunate for them. We had to take a few more risks after that. But my conviction was 100% to go with this team.”
Stand-in skipper Petr Cech admitted: “We don’t have our destiny in our own hands any more. We just have to hope Fate is kind. It is a very sad moment.”
Di Matteo, though, said: “Mathematically, it’s still possible. While there’s hope you still try. Who says that Juventus aren’t going to lose at Shakhtar? We just have to make we do our job.”