Chelsea TV were the first to gauge Roberto Di Matteo’s reaction to our Champions League draw, and the manager believes we have some interesting challenges ahead.
‘It’s not an easy group, it’s going to be tough,’ he said, speaking at the Stade Louis II Stadium in Monaco. ‘Juventus I know very well, champions of Italy. They play some high tempo football, some good football, and have some good players.
‘Shakhtar because of the connection with our club doctor Paco Biosca, who spent seven years there, we know a lot as well. Nordsjaelland are probably the weakest team in the group, but I think we will have to be at our best from the first game with juventus at home.
‘It’s going to be a big one just after the international break as well, so hopefully all our players come back in good shape from their national teams. Before it we have a big derby against QPR as well, so it’s going to be a busy week.’
The manager, a former Italian international, expects Juventus at Stamford Bridge in just over a fortnight to be the pick of the games from the group.
‘We like to be involved in the big games and our players respond very well to the big games, they are used to taking responsibility and I think they prefer those games,’ he commented. ‘But on the other hand they have had a good season, a good team, and hopefully we can start the campaign with a win at home.’