Source: team_talk
RDM looks for special night
Roberto Di Matteo has admitted Wednesday's crunch clash with Shakhtar Donetsk is Chelsea's biggest game since the Champions League final.
Di Matteo has made no bones about the fact the European champions would be staring at a humiliating early exit from the competition if they fail to avenge their damaging Group E defeat at the Donbass Arena a week and a half ago.
No previous Champions League winner has ever failed to qualify for the knockout stages and Roman Abramovich is unlikely to look kindly on Chelsea becoming the first.
Manager Di Matteo is also expected to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League, something he has so far managed, but he acknowledged there had been no bigger game this season than that on Wednesday night.
"I think it's fair to say," he said, adding that Chelsea might also need to take four points from their remaining matches at Juventus and against Nordsjaelland.
"We need to win both home games, for sure, and maybe get something from Turin as well."
Chelsea were completely outplayed by Shakhtar in their first meeting, sparking doubts over whether they could turn the result on its head against opponents who have not lost in almost a year.
But the Blues proved last season that there is no one better at rising to the occasion in the Champions League, especially in front of their own fans.
Di Matteo admitted there were parallels with his first European game in charge against Napoli, which saw Chelsea sensationally defy the odds to overturn a two-goal first leg deficit in the last-16 clash.
"At Stamford Bridge, it'll be a different game," he said.
"Because, obviously, we are very strong at home and it'll be different.
"Certainly, the early goal we conceded was a big factor, especially for them, because it allowed them to then play on the counter-attack, rather than have to maybe be a little bit offensive."
He added: "We'll have to produce a special night, on Wednesday, for sure."
That should be helped by the return of John Terry from his racism ban.
Chelsea have missed their captain's leadership and defensive ability during his suspension and Di Matteo admitted they were stronger with him than without.
He said: "He's still a fantastic defender and he's very influential when he plays, and he's used to those kinds of games as well, big pressure game and big European nights.
"Certainly, he marks his influence on the pitch and on the opposition.
"We have a good dressing room in the sense that we have a few people that are influential and they're used to these kinds of pressure games and can perform under it as well.
"JT is one but we've got others as well, like Petr Cech and others that are now coming through."
And they can perform no matter what is thrown at them, with the Mark Clattenburg furore the latest crisis to hit the club.
"Maybe it's part of our DNA," Di Matteo said.
"Even when there weren't any external issues, there has been a strong identity and team.
"But, certainly, there's a strong work and team ethic within our dressing room."
Di Matteo was under no illusions about the task facing Chelsea against a Shakhtar side who have proven invincible of late.
"We looked at Shakhtar and we knew that they were a very strong side," he said.
"They went to Turin and played with a lot of confidence and ambition there, so there was no underestimating the opposition.
"They're a very good team, they're a quick team, they have some quality, individual players that can really decide a game on their own and they've been together for many years as well.
"The bulk of the team has been together for many years, so they're used to playing with each other, and in certain ways, and that certainly helps them."
