Caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo has hinted he is unlikely to build platonic relationships with his Chelsea players as he has 'no friends'.
Blues boss not feeling pressure at Stamford Bridge
Caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo has hinted he is unlikely to build platonic relationships with his Chelsea players as he has 'no friends' inside or outside of football.
The Italian has been handed the task of guiding the club to a top-four Premier League finish and keeping their UEFA Champions League campaign alive following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas last weekend.
Much has been made of the reported player power in the Stamford Bridge dressing room after it appeared to hamper Villas-Boas' time at the helm.
No friends
Ex-Blues midfielder Di Matteo, who has been placed in charge until the end of the season, has previously said he feels his
players are 'on side'.
But he is likely to keep relationships professional after revealing he does not have friends.
He told
The Sun: "I think 'friends' is a big word. I'm not sure how many friends you have.
"I don't have any, actually. If someone comes up to me and says 'I met a friend of yours the other day', they are a liar.
"I don't have any friends. That's my outlook. I've had a few experiences in my life which have taught me about friendship.
"OK, I'm taking it to the extreme. But it takes a lot to become my friend. Football has made me this way. It has been experiences in life which have taught me this. But that's my private life."
Di Matteo is open to taking his players' opinions on board but knows the crucial decisions ultimately come down to him.
"I've had a good relationship with my players at previous clubs," he added.
"That's the case here as well. We talk and have conversations. That's how it is. We exchange opinions. Eventually I make my own decisions. But we do speak and I listen to what they think.
"Ultimately, though, it's my responsibility to pick the players and the tactics for every game."
Expectation
The manager insists he can handle the expectation on his shoulders to turn Chelsea's season around, adding: "How am I going to cope? I will still get up in the morning, have a coffee, have my lunch, my dinner and get on with my life as normal.
"At any club, there's pressure to achieve certain targets. It's always there.
"If you can't handle it or don't want it, you should not be in this job."
