Roberto Di Matteo slams FA over Cup clash

 
Speaking out: Roberto di Matteo wishes that the FA had listened to him
30 March 2012

Roberto Di Matteo has accused the Football Association of ‘a lack of common sense’ after Chelsea were told they must play their FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham on a Sunday night three days before a possible Champions League clash at home to Barcelona.

Chelsea wanted the Wembley game to be pushed back to Friday April 13 but the FA have instead set an unusual 6pm kick-off for that Sunday, giving Di Matteo’s men little time to prepare for a huge game against either Barcelona or AC Milan should they qualify for the last four of Europe’s top club competition.

Liverpool’s semi-final with Everton has to be on the Saturday so as not to clash with the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, however, the FA’s decision to play late on the Sunday has angered the caretaker manager.

“First of all we have to qualify for the Champions League semi-final,” said Di Matteo, whose side beat Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday. “We’ve tried to communicate with the FA and are co-operating with them. It’s disappointing that common sense has not prevailed.

“Would I have been happier if the game was an earlier kick-off on the Sunday? I probably would have been happy with a Friday night kick-off. We’ve tried to co-operate with all the authorities and have given them our point of view. It seems it hasn’t really been taken into consideration.”

First, Di Matteo has to focus on Chelsea’s quest to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with his men five points behind fourth-placed Spurs.

The Blues head to Aston Villa tomorrow boosted by their impressive win in Lisbon and Raul Meireles (knee) is their only injury doubt. Di Matteo is confident his side can maintain their revival since he succeeded Andre Villas-Boas, although he refused to confirm if he will make changes to the team and bring back Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.

“We are in good form and shape, and the spirit is good,” he said. “When you win the confidence flows into the players and team. It doesn’t work that whoever misses one game will be in the next. I am very happy that we have almost a full squad to select from which will be very important for the rest of this run-in for us.”

Petr Cech has almost been an ever present this season and will make his 50th appearance of the campaign — for his club and the Czech Republic — tomorrow.

The goalkeeper could end up playing 70 games this term but said: “Although it’s tiring and sometimes you have enough of travelling, it is still better than just having all week to train [if Chelsea were out of all the competitions]. We keep working well and at the same time are trying to find ways to recover as fast as possible.”

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