Editing Roberto Di Matteo (section)

====2012–13====
[[File:Dimatteo2.jpg|thumbnail|Di Matteo as a coach of Chelsea in 2012]]

On 13 June 2012, Chelsea announced that Di Matteo had been appointed manager and first-team coach on a permanent basis signing a two-year contract with the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2810782|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624214041/http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2810782|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 June 2013|title=DI MATTEO SIGNS TWO-YEAR CONTRACT|website=chelseafc.com|publisher=Chelsea F.C. |date=13 June 2012|access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref> Chief executive Ron Gourlay said: 'Although he (Di Matteo) has set the bar very high in the short time he has been in charge, we know that Roberto is the right man to lead Chelsea onto further success.' Gourlay added: 'We are already looking forward to the [[2012–13 Chelsea F.C. season|2012–13 season]] which kicks off when Roberto, his staff and players return for pre-season.'<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18434039|title=Roberto Di Matteo named as permanent Chelsea manager|publisher=BBC Sport|date=13 June 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> Chelsea lost in the [[2012 FA Community Shield]] to Manchester City 2–3.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Ben|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19133978|title=Chelsea 2–3 Manchester City|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2013|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> His team started the [[2012–13 Premier League]] well, with victories against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Scrivener|first=Peter|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19231340|title=Wigan Athletic 0–2 Chelsea|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 August 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> [[Reading F.C.|Reading]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Sanghera|first=Mandeep |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19279583|title=Chelsea 4–2 Reading|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 August 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Chowdhury|first=Saj |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19304403|title=Chelsea 2–0 Newcastle United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 August 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> They lost the [[2012 UEFA Super Cup]] 4–1 to [[Atlético Madrid]] in Monaco on 1 September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19423702|title=Chelsea 1–4 Atletico Madrid|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 September 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> The good early season form continued with four successive Premier League wins against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]], [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] and Tottenham Hotspur.

In the [[2012–13 UEFA Champions League]], Chelsea drew 2–2 with [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] and beat Danish club [[FC Nordsjælland|Nordsjælland]] 4–0 away.<ref>{{cite web|title=Draw specialists Juventus need Nordsjælland boost|url=http://www.uefa.org/news/newsid=1855536.html|publisher=UEFA|date=30 October 2012|access-date=31 October 2016}}</ref> Their form declined after this, however, losing to [[Shakhtar Donetsk]] in the Champions League and to Manchester United at home in the Premier League.<ref>{{cite web|title=Manchester United defender backs red card for Torres|url=http://www.london24.com/manchester_united_defender_backs_red_card_for_torres_1_1673168|website=London24.com|publisher=[[Archant]]|date=28 October 2012|access-date=30 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031154855/http://www.london24.com/manchester_united_defender_backs_red_card_for_torres_1_1673168|archive-date=31 October 2016}}</ref> Chelsea's chances of advancing through their Champions League group were raised with a 3–2 home victory against leaders Shakhtar,<ref>{{cite news|last=McNulty|first=Phil|title=Chelsea 3–2 Shakhtar Donetsk|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20150427|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 November 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> but on 21 November 2012, Di Matteo was sacked following their 3–0 away loss to Juventus in the Champions League, which all but eliminated them from the competition.<ref name="Roberto Di Matteo sacked by Chelsea after Juventus defeat">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20423905|title=Roberto Di Matteo sacked by Chelsea after Juventus defeat|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 November 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> Di Matteo had lasted just eight months as manager of Chelsea despite winning two major trophies, causing the decision to be controversial with many pundits and club fans.<ref name="Roberto Di Matteo sacked by Chelsea after Juventus defeat"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2986865/title/statement-on-roberto-di-matteo|title=STATEMENT ON ROBERTO DI MATTEO|website=chelseafc.com|publisher=Chelsea F.C.|date=21 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122225716/http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2986865/title/statement-on-roberto-di-matteo|archive-date=22 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Ben|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20308128|title=Juventus 3–0 Chelsea|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 November 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kelso|first=Paul|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9692822/Roberto-Di-Matteo-fired-as-Chelsea-manager-in-4am-meeting-after-3-0-defeat-against-Juventus.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9692822/Roberto-Di-Matteo-fired-as-Chelsea-manager-in-4am-meeting-after-3-0-defeat-against-Juventus.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Roberto Di Matteo fired as Chelsea manager in 4&nbsp;am meeting after 3–0 defeat against Juventus|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=21 November 2012|access-date=27 January 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2012/nov/21/chelsea-sack-roberto-di-matteo?intcmp=239|title=Chelsea sack Roberto Di Matteo|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=21 November 2012|access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref> Later that day, [[Rafael Benítez]] was brought in as Chelsea's interim manager until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20427966|title=Rafael Benitez replaces Roberto Di Matteo as Chelsea manager|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 November 2012|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref>

In November 2013, it was reported that Di Matteo was still being paid £130,000-a-week by Chelsea because the two parties had never agreed on a pay-off settlement and that he would continue to be paid in full until June 2014 unless he took another job before then.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/13/chelsea-still-paying-roberto-di-matteo-130000-week |title=Chelsea 'still paying ex-manager Roberto Di Matteo £130,000-a-week' |work=The Guardian|location=London |date=12 November 2013 |access-date=8 October 2014 }}</ref>