Di Matteo: Reading pose stern test for Chelsea
Reuters - Tuesday 21 August 2012, 16:06
Brazilian midfielder Ramires has
recovered from illness and could feature for Chelsea against
promoted Reading in the European champions' first home Premier
League match of the new season on Wednesday.
Coach Roberto Di Matteo said he expected a stern challenge
from the visitors to Stamford Bridge for a match re-arranged
because Chelsea face Europa League winners Atletico Madrid in
the European Super Cup match in Monaco next week.
Reading, back in the top flight after four seasons in the
Championship, drew 1-1 at home to Stoke on Saturday and Di
Matteo said he would not be taking them lightly.
"I'm very wary of newly promoted teams like Reading and
Southampton," he told a news conference on Tuesday.
"It's a very difficult game when you play a newly promoted
team early on, full of enthusiasm and spirit. You sometimes look
at it and think you don't want to change a winning team but it
doesn't always work like that.
"Ramires is fine, [Marko] Marin is still out, so apart from
his hamstring injury we are OK. It won't be long, but it might
not be before the international break, we will have to see.
Di Matteo said Chelsea were looking to integrate Brazil
midfielder Oscar gradually into their squad. "He hasn't been
with us long so we have to give him the right time to get used
to his new team-mates, the club and the team, do some tactical
work with him and slowly put him into the team."
Chelsea opened their league campaign with a 2-0 win at Wigan
Athletic on Sunday and are looking to win their opening two
league matches for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons.
They also have a fine record against promoted teams at
Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 33 home
matches against them stretching back over 11 years, since losing
1-0 to Charlton Athletic in April 2001.
Reading have drawn three and lost the other three of their
six league visits to the Bridge.
Di Matteo was full of praise for Reading manager Brian
McDermott, whose side won automatic promotion last season.
"He has done a wonderful job. They had a great run in the
second half of the season. I followed the Championship a lot and
they're difficult to play against.
"They don't concede many goals and are a threat on the
counter-attack. I always found it hard to play against Brian
McDermott's teams."