Every manager who won had a bit of luck - Roberto Di Matteo

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: John Obi Mikel of Chelsea and coach Roberto Di Matteo face the media during a Chelsea Training Session & Press Conference ahead of the Uefa Champions League Group E match between Chelsea and Juventus at Stamford Bridge on September 18, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

John Obi Mikel and Roberto Di Matteo were invited to a packed press conference at Cobham, ahead of their Champions League opener against Juventus.

The proceedings of the press conference were as follows:

The Chelsea Social Media Manager walks in and acts as coordinator. John Obi Mikel walks in looking visibly tired and Roberto Di Matteo follows him close by.

Social Media Manager: Okay , lets keep this short, yes? Raise your hands, I’ll point out to you and then you speak. First Mikel and then Di Matteo.

Yes, sir you at the back.

Reporter: Uh Mikel, will this Champions League be any different than last year with respect to your campaign?

Mikel - I think its still same players, same manager so you know I think its still the same thing. We train everyday, work hard and we still play same formation in every game that the manager likes. We are still hungry and still want to win trophies and hopefully achieve more than last season.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: You sir.

Reporter: Do you think Barca and Real will dominate to make it an El Clasico final, this year as it was said last year?

Mikel: I think yes, they are going to be favourites. But that is what happened last season, everyone wrote us off , but we showed how we wanted to win the Champions League more and we are still hungry to retain the trophy . We want to go far in this tournament and we think it can happen.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Sir on the right, yes you.

Reporter: This is the first time Chelsea are starting as Champions, will there be more pressure?

Mikel: I think when you say that, it does add a bit pressure but at the same time we are more relaxed. We have done it and we can finally relax that we have won it after all those days in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and we want to build on the success. We have a lot of good senior players to deal with pressure. We live with pressure and we have to prove people wrong. It’s going to be tough but if we go out there tomorrow we have to be positive.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: The miss at the back, please

Reporter: Were Chelsea lucky?

Mikel: [chuckles] In everything you do you get luck, it just wasn’t luck last season. Even when you look at the Barcelona game with 10 men it was more spirit and attidue than luck. We worked very hard and we deserved it. This season we brought in new players and hopefully we can play good football and reach the final again, which we are sure we are capable of.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: You sir.

Reporter: You’re up against one of the legends of midfield, Andrea Pirlo. Your thoughts on facing him?

Mikel: I think Pirlo is a great player, everyone saw what he did for Italy at the Euro’s . He is a legend in the game. For me, everyday I come into training and try to improve my game and even try to learn from the youngsters. I want to win tomorrow and learn more from Pirlo and hopefully come off with a victory. Once we step up on the pitch , we are different players and it will be a battle. I will hopefully learn a thing or two from him.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Okay final question. You sir.

Reporter: Did you watch the video of the final again? Enjoy it in any way?

Mikel: I think, I watched it once. It was a great achievement as a club, and the manager has done fantastic since taking over. We have to just keep going and not look back at it. Sometimes we can look back at it for motivation but for now we have to move on.

Italian translator translates

Mikel gets up, Di Matteo pats him on the back as he leaves.

Social Media Manager: That will be all for Mikel. Same process as before raise your hands to ask Roberto Di Matteo and I will choose…

Yes you sir.

Reporter: Any news on injury?

Roberto Di Matteo: There’s no news, from last game. It is the same situation from the weekend.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Sir in the front.

Reporter: Has the pressure been lifted and will the players be complacent from the fact, that they actually won the Champions League?

Roberto Di Matteo: No, when you are at a big club like Chelsea, you want to win. We wanted to bring the trophy to Stamford Bridge and we’re happy we have done it but we are still hungry for more. We now just look forward and just treasure the past.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Yes sir, you.

Reporter: Thoughts on the fixture and Juventus?

Roberto Di Matteo: Fantastic run, unbeaten run and they have some quality in their team with experienced players. This has to be one of the most difficult fixtures in the Champions League.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: You at the back .

Reporter: Will you as a permanent manager change anything?

Roberto Di Matteo: Not really, the objective is always to get past the group stages. Once we’re through, its a two game setup and so it doesn’t really change anything for us.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Sir on the right. Yes you.

Reporter: What are your thoughts on people saying that Chelsea were lucky to win the Champions League.

Roberto Di Matteo: I think that you have to say that about every manager who won this competition. I think we worked very hard and prepared ourselves against any opposition, like we focused on attack against Napoli and focused on defense against Barcelona. You might need a portion of luck but every team has it to win in the finals. It’s just a minor part of it.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: You sir.

Reporter: On an Italian perspective, how does it feel to have Juventus, the Serie A champions back in the Champions League?

Roberto Di Matteo: Well they are difficult opponents, we got three champions in our group. The Danish champions, the Ukrainian champions and then the Italian champions. Its difficult for us and its not just us. Almost every group is competitive. More difficult and stronger than last year.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Yes miss, you.

Reporter: No one’s retained the Champions League, why is it difficult to do so? Do you think Chelsea can do it?

Roberto Di Matteo: It’s feirce competition thats why. Every season, new strong teams are coming in. Thats why it becomes very diffcult. So far it has been impossible to retain it but we will try our level best to retain it.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Sir at the back, please.

Reporter: What are your thoughts about the discrimination problem?

Roberto Di Matteo: I’ve been in England for a long time now and its been improved very dramatically. The respect campaign has helped a lot and the English football community has done a lot to make sure discrimantion does not happen anymore.

Italian translator translates

Social Media Manager: Final question. Yes, you.

Question asked in Italian, RDM answers in Italian

Translator: What should Juventus expect, same type of football, will it be defensive?

Di Matteo says, he expects it to be better football. The players will attack, and they will try to link into places that open up and fight back.

Social Media Manager: Lets take one last question. Sir on the right

(Question asked in Italian, RDM answers in Italian)

Translator: We saw two sides of Juventus, when they attacked more and then the other game were they pressured them. How will Chelsea counter against that?

Di Matteo: Umm, not going to tell what we’re going to do. I saw many games and including those two and you can expect something that will match them up.

Social Media Manager: That will be all, thank you for coming.

Di Matteo gets up and walks inside, reporters follow him.