Chelsea FC have sacked Roberto Di Matteo following the 3-0 defeat to Juventus on Tuesday evening which left the club’s prospects of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages hanging by a thread.
The Blues needed a positive result in Turin to maintain hopes of defending their European crown, but Antonio Conte’s side ran out comfortable winners with the English side looking likely to become the competition’s first ever holders to be eliminated at the group stage.
And with their Premier League form slipping after a bright start, owner Roman Abramovich has decided to sack the manager, with the club insisting that “results have not been good enough”.
A statement on Chelsea’s official website 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 face a season-defining period over the coming weeks, with a clash against Premier League champions Manchester City on November 25 followed by the must-win game against Nordsjaelland on December 5.
The statement continued: “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.’
Despite winning the Champions League and FA Cup after taking over from Andre Villas-Boas in March 2012, Di Matteo is the latest in a long list of managers who have failed to appease owner Abramovich.
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