Chelsea sack coach Di Matteo after Juventus defeat

Chelsea sacked their coach Roberto Di Matteo on Wednesday a day after his team were hammered 3-0 by Juventus in the Champions League.

Di Matteo’s dismissal, which was announced in a statement on the club’s website, comes just months after he led the Blues to a stunning Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich.

But Tuesday’s defeat to Juventus leaves the Champions League holders on the brink of elimination from the competition.

"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," Chelsea said on their website (www.chelsea.com).

"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."

The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager.
Juventus are now the favourites to join Shakhtar in the last 16 after a 3-0 defeat of Chelsea to move second in Group E.

A draw for the Italians in Ukraine in a fortnight would mean Chelsea having the dubious distinction of becoming the first defending champions to exit at the group stage.