Chelsea turned to Roberto Di Matteo as interim supervisor after firing Andre Villas-Boas on this day in 2012.
The highly-rated Portuguese coach, 34, was proven the exit door by Roman Abramovich simply eight months after the Blues forked out £13.3million to purchase him out of his Porto contract,
Chelsea had received simply 5 of 16 matches when Villas-Boas was sacked, seeing them slide out of the highest 4 at a time when their Champions League and FA Cup hopes had been in jeopardy.
It was threatening to be the worst season since Abramovich took over and eyebrows had been raised when the membership turned to fan favorite Di Matteo – Villas-Boas’ assistant.
There had been hypothesis that ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could be introduced in – one thing that might occur later that yr – however the west London membership as an alternative turned to their former midfielder.
“At any club, there’s pressure to achieve certain targets – it’s always there,” the previous MK Dons and West Brom boss, 41, stated after changing into Chelsea’s eighth supervisor in as a few years.
“Even if you’re working at another club. If you can’t handle it, don’t want it, you shouldn’t be in this job.
“We are in a results-driven business. It’s very simple. At any club where you work, you’ll have targets and the pressure is there. Everywhere.
“That’s the common aspect for any manager, in League One, League Two, Championship or Premier League.”
The interim appointment of Di Matteo for the rest of the 2011-12 season proved impressed.
The former Italy worldwide led Chelsea to their fourth FA Cup success in six seasons, earlier than masterminding their maiden Champions League title with victory over Bayern Munich on penalties in the ultimate.
Di Matteo was rewarded with a two-year deal that June, solely to be ruthlessly sacked 23 weeks later.
Benitez was introduced in for the rest of the season and led the membership to the 2013 Europa League crown.
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