Champions League: ‘Perfection’ needed to beat Barcelona, say Chelsea

Di Matteo has transformed the fortunes of the Blues since being appointed caretaker manager just over six weeks ago, culminating in Sunday’s 5-1 FA Cup semi-final thrashing of Tottenham. But the 41-year-old is under no illusion that Chelsea will need to hit new heights tonight and next Tuesday to beat the team some regard as one of the greatest of all time.

“It’s fair to say we need two perfect games,” Di Matteo said. “But I think, also, that the fact we’ve been performing very well in the last six weeks gives us the belief we can produce two perfect games in this match.

“It’s the biggest challenge for any manager to play against the best team in the world and, for every player as well, to be able to compare themselves against one of the top teams in the world.”

Chelsea have every incentive to conjure up the perfect performance, with a Champions League final and the chance to avenge their semi-final defeat of three years ago the prize on offer. But Di Matteo denied the burning sense of injustice from the sides’ last meeting – which saw the Blues denied a clutch of penalties before Andres Iniesta scored a stoppage-time away goal – would be a motivation tonight.

“What happened in the past has gone,” he said. “There’s a strong feeling in the team that they want to do well, that they’re highly motivated to produce a good performance against Barca.”

Chelsea have proven Barca’s bogey side down the years, helping thwart their Champions League ambitions on more than one occasion.

Di Matteo said: “They don’t like to play against us. The results in the past show that. The way we play is maybe a bit more difficult for them to play against.

“We respect each other, both, but we both know there’ll be two teams tomorrow night who will play against each other.

“We’ve shown on many occasions that we’re a team who can give them a lot of problems.”

Barcelona are well aware that Chelsea have rediscovered some of their old dynamic form since Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas as manager in March.

Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal midfielder now at Barca, knows the Spaniards will have to be at their best this evening. Fabregas, whose side also have a must-win “El Clasico” match against Real Madrid in the league on Saturday, said: “With Villas-Boas they played more from the back, keeping possession and having the initiative,” the Barcelona midfielder said. “With Roberto Di Matteo they have compacted, the type of Chelsea that was successful a few years ago using counterattacks, more long balls and then using the number nine as a reference.

“I follow the Premier League and I think they are in their best shape at the minute. We have been very consistent as well. However, in these games it is about winning, not the form you have had for the last couple of months. It is about trying to make it happen and getting Barcelona into a final.”