Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Roberto Di Matteo ready for Champions League return with Schalke

Robert Di Matteo wants to return to the Champions League with a bang nearly two years after his was sacked by Chelsea in charge of new club Schalke.

Di Matteo was fired in November 2012, just six months after claiming a first European Cup for Chelsea, following a 3-0 defeat at Juventus in the following season's group stage. Chelsea brought in Rafa Benitez as interim manager for the rest of the season, which they ended by winning the Europa League.

On Tuesday, the former Italy international will return to the European spotlight when Schalke host Sporting Lisbon at the Veltins Arena. The Royal Blues have picked up two points from their first two Group G fixtures this season, and now want to kick-start their campaign with three points against the Portuguese side who currently sit bottom of the group.

"You need to try and win the home games," Di Matteo told his prematch news conference. "Experience has shown that away games are very tough." The Royal Blues take on Sporting in back-to-back games before hosting Premier League leaders Chelsea.

"We want to win the match as it will put us in a good position," Di Matteo, who started his reign at Schalke with a 2-0 victory over Hertha Berlin, added. "The win did us the world of good. I hope that we can follow up victory against Hertha with another success in midweek."

Yet, Di Matteo warned that the Sporting match will not be a walk in the park for the Royal Blues. "They are a tough team to face; they have plenty of players full of individual quality. They keep the ball well thanks to their 4-3-3 formation," he said. Schalke sporting executive Horst Heldt added: "It would be important to keep the direct opponent at bay."

Striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar added: "The most important thing for us is that we don't concede a goal and keep it tight at that back. That will give us confidence."

^ Back to Top ^