Chelsea set to offer Di Matteo permanent job

Chelsea's interim manager Roberto Di Matteo gestures during their English Premier League match against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge in London. (REUTERS)

Published Thursday, June 07, 2012

By Staff

Chelsea are on the verge of giving Roberto Di Matteo a permanent role as manager after failing to lure Barcelona's Pep Guardiola from retirement, according to reports in the British press.

The Champions League-winning Italian, 41, is not prepared to continue as interim boss after taking over from Andre Villas-Boas in March.

And owner Roman Abramovich is seriously considerng to hand him a contract after failing to lure Pep Guardiola out of retirement.

Di Matteo is due back from holiday this weekend and wants his future sorted out before his current deal expires this month.

Nothing has been agreed yet, and it remained unclear as to how long a contract is being discussed for the man who guided the club to a stunning Champions League and FA Cup double last month.

Di Matteo may also still have issues.

It will concern him that he could be keeping the managerial seat warm while the club wait for Guardiola. He also has options in Italy.

The Chelsea players would want Di Matteo to continue. They told Abramovich as much in Munich after lifting the European Cup.

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