Di Matteo too busy to discuss Blues job

Roberto Di Matteo yesterday insisted he had spoken to no one at Chelsea about becoming manager full-time and refused to set a deadline for declaring whether he wanted the job.

Not even the Blues’ astonishing Champions League win over Barcelona on Wednesday night could break caretaker manager Di Matteo’s resolve not to throw his hat into the ring to succeed Andre Villas-Boas.

The spectacular success of Di Matteo’s masterplan against the world and European champions has further increased the clamour for him to be handed the reins permanently.

Reports prior to Wednesday’s 1-0 win suggested the Italian had already been interviewed for the post after masterminding what was at that point 10 victories and two draws from his 13 games in charge.

But yesterday he denied having held any talks about his long-term future, adding: “I don’t think it’s important right now to speak about anything like that.

“Our focus is on playing these games. We don’t have time to think about anything else.”

Chelsea are in the midst of a punishing schedule of a match every three or four days but asked when he would make his intentions known, Di Matteo added: “I don’t think there’s a time limit to anything like that.

“At the moment, that’s not the focus of anybody because it’s not important. We’ve got more important aspects to think about.”

Di Matteo is certainly the choice of many fans, with every poll conducted among Chelsea supporters declaring him the overwhelming favourite for the job.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with our supporters,” the former Blues midfielder said. “That goes back to the days when I was a player and it continued after I retired from football.”

Rival clubs will be beating a path to Di Matteo’s door if Chelsea let him slip from their grasp, so remarkably has the 41-year-old restored his reputation as one of the brightest young coaches around.

“Six weeks ago, if anybody would’ve told you that we were in this position now, we would’ve been very happy,” said Di Matteo, who has also led the Blues into the FA Cup final.

“We had the belief and we knew that we had the quality in our team as well.”

Di Matteo has had few opportunities to savour the success.

“There is so little time to enjoy these wins,” he said.

“The [FA Cup] semi-final against Spurs was a great win but there was no time to enjoy it, and this one in midweek the same.

“Because, after the game, you start thinking about Arsenal already.”

Today’s Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium is arguably even more important to Chelsea’s long-term future than Tuesday’s Champions League return leg with Barca.

Di Matteo, whose number-one priority is a top-four finish, said: “Unfortunately, we have to play catch-up — that’s been [the case] from day one.

“So, every game that we’ve played in the league is crucial, and this is another one.”

Victory would — temporarily anyway — lift Chelsea back into the Champions League qualifying spots and their hopes have been boosted by the news Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta would miss the rest of the season.

Informed the Gunners had failed to win a league game without him this term, Di Matteo said: “Good!

“But they have a good squad, they have a lot of good-quality players.”

Di Matteo will definitely make changes today, with Fernando Torres certain to start as Didier Drogba is out with a knee injury.

There could also be a recall for Daniel Sturridge, whose form has dipped alarmingly in 2012 and who is in danger of blowing his Euro 2012 chances with England.

Captain John Terry looks certain to lead the side out again, with Branislav Ivanovic suspended and David Luiz still sidelined by the hamstring injury that could yet rule him out of the FA Cup final.

Di Matteo revealed Terry’s cracked ribs were now “fine” and played down the effect fatigue could have on his squad.

“Psychologically, it feels much better digesting this amount of games when you’re winning,” he said.

“That doesn’t take away the fact that we’re going to play our third game in less than six days.

“I’ve been using the squad and I will continue to do so because I think that is the only answer, really, to be able to compete in every game.”