Glenn Hoddle says Roberto Di Matteo is in pole position to become Chelsea's next full-time boss.
Di Matteo in pole position for Blues role, says Hoddle
Glenn Hoddle believes Roberto Di Matteo has established himself in pole position to become Chelsea's next permanent manager.
The Italian has taken charge of the club on a caretaker basis following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas and has now steered them to the brink of a Champions League semi-final following Tuesday night's first leg win in Benfica.
His predecessor had difficulty handling some of Chelsea's experienced stars, but Hoddle was impressed by the performances of John Terry and Ashley Cole in Portugal and said the likes of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are more willing to play from the bench under Di Matteo.
And he says for that reason, Roman Abramovich might consider giving him the job on a full-time basis.
"You play your best players on the big nights and they've done that," Hoddle told
Sky Sports.
"They rested Frank, but he came on and looked as if he was positive, he wanted to get forward into the box and did his bit defensively. Drogba will do the same when he comes back in at the weekend or whenever they play him.
"John Terry and Ashley Cole are the better players in those positions and they are a must. They've got to be in that team - and Roberto knows that.
"He's had a really good night, he's in the semi-final of the FA Cup, he's still got a chance of getting in the top four and I think he's now going to end up in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
"He's in pole position for that job at this moment in time. It's in his hands."
Spot on
Chelsea will take a 1-0 lead back to Stamford Bridge for the quarter-final, second leg next Wednesday after Salomon Kalou's second-half strike separated the sides at the Stadium of Light.
And Hoddle said Di Matteo - who raised some eyebrows with the inclusion of Paulo Ferreira at right-back - set his team up brilliantly to counter attack Benfica.
"He got it absolutely spot on," he said.
"Ferreira was the only risk and other than that we could see what he was trying to do; tighten things up. It was nigh-on a perfect performance from Chelsea.
"I like the fact he allowed them to break on Benfica so it always looked as if they were going to score - and they have. They've got that away goal, which is fabulous to take back to the Bridge.
"I can only see Chelsea in the semi-final now."
Uniting
Fellow
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp agreed that Di Matteo has done a good job in uniting the Chelsea dressing room.
And he pointed to the goal celebrations following Kalou's strike as an example of the bond that has been built between the players in recent weeks.
"What he's done is come and stabilise the club," Redknapp said.
"Before he was there I think there was a poisonous atmosphere developing. Players were falling out with the manager and you can't have that as a club. He seems to have got everybody back on side and they're playing for him.
"We were sat behind the bench and when they scored there was a positive reaction from everybody - and I'm a big believer in that. You want everybody pulling together.
"Even the players he left out, you could see they genuinely wanted the club to win and I don't think that always happens.
"He's done a good job so far."
