Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo expects all players to shake Rio Ferdinand's hand

Roberto Di Matteo: Hopes all the players will shake hands

Roberto Di Matteo does not expect the pre-match handshake to cause problems when Chelsea host Manchester United on Sunday.

There have been suggestions Rio Ferdinand might snub Ashley Cole after the Chelsea defender appeared as a witness for the defence in July's John Terry-Anton Ferdinand trial.

Terry - suspended this weekend - was cleared by a magistrate of racially abusing QPR's Ferdinand but subsequently banned by the FA for the same offence, and the pair did not shake hands when the Blues visited Loftus Road last month.

But Di Matteo reckons a repeat is unlikely. He said: "From our point of view we'll play our part, and I don't foresee any problems. I hope all the players will shake hands."

And the Chelsea manager is not expecting United's Ferdinand to be targeted by the home crowd, despite anti-Anton Ferdinand chants at Stamford Bridge last season.

He said: "Our fans have been very good generally, very supportive of our team and respectful. I can't comment on how every individual will react but I'm sure they'll support our team."

Terry has been disciplined by Chelsea but retains the club captaincy, and under new PFA proposals any club employee found guilty of racial abuse could face the sack.

Di Matteo said: "If it becomes a rule we'll play by the rules as we've always done. As a club we are against any kind of discrimination."

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