Source: Daily_Mail
Roberto Di Matteo can give Roberto Mancini a run for his money in the Premier style stakes
Cutting his cloth: Di Matteo will be on atight budget in the top flight[LNB]Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini does not have the monopoly on touchline chic.[LNB] He has a serious rival in Roberto Di Matteo. Son of Switzerland, Italy international, famous FA Cup final goalscorer, and now - following his elevation to the top flight with West Bromwich Albion - Barclays Premier League manager.[LNB] Bobby Manc, scarf 'n' all, has Eastlands and a cast of galacticos.Bob of Smethwick isn't working with the same tools, but he cuts it inthe style stakes, believe me.[LNB] Following West Brom's 1- 0 victoryover Sheffield Wednesday on a cold Tuesday night last month, a reporterenquired about the natty knitwear underneath Di Matteo's grey suit. Heraised an eyebrow, wondering if the request was genuine, then said:'It's not expensive the trick is to make it look expensive.'[LNB] If Di Matteo can do that on the pitch next season, parsimonious Hawthorns chairman Jeremy Peace will be happy.[LNB]Word has it that Di Matteo charmed Peace when manager Tony Mowbray quitto join Celtic last summer. It's difficult not to fall under DiMatteo's spell. In our interview, he even asks questions back.[LNB]The former midfielder shows a complete lack of self-absorption. Evenformer Chelsea chairman Ken Bates was cut to pieces when injury forcedDi Matteo's retirement eight years ago at the age of 31.[LNB] 'Espresso?' asks West Bromwich's head coach, manning the machine in the corner of his office. I don't really like the stuff, but if it's what Di Matteo is drinking, then I'll give it a go. After all, I wanna be cool, too.[LNB] 'It has taken me a long time to get to grips with not playing, to digest it,' he said. 'I didn't quite realise it at the time. I thought, "I'll do this and that and I'll get through". Eventually, I looked back and felt differently. That's when you know it is closed.[LNB] 'So I went off and did my coaching badges with Chelsea, started an MBA at university, formed a property company in Italy and Switzerland, and worked as a pundit on a sports show in Italy for a season. I've done a bit of everything.[LNB]Read Neil Moxley's Midlands football column 'I was at Euro 2008, working for Swiss television, when I received acall from Mr Winkelman at MK Dons, asking me whether I'd be interested in an interview. "An interview?" I thought. "Why not? I've not had an interview since I was 16."[LNB] 'I didn't think for a second I would get anywhere as I had no experience. Anyway, it was nice. I was called for a second interview and the rest is history. So, you see, I didn't choose management, it chose me.'[LNB] The Chelsea sides graced by Di Matteo between 1996 and 2002 were packed with managers in waiting.[LNB]'Myself, Gus Poyet, Dennis Wise, Dan Petrescu, Mark Hughes, Gianfranco Zola, there's quite a few,' he said. 'We had a good team spirit, we had agood bond. We did spend a lot of time together outside football.[LNB] Key figures: Di Matteo in a Chelsea team packed with future managers[LNB] 'You could see that on the pitch because the understanding was amazing. Some of them would have said that management was for them. Certainly Gus, not so sure about Dennis, Dan or myself.[LNB] 'It didn't really cross our minds. I was experiencing a new culture and English football with its banter and all of that. I wasn't very good at that. Dennis Wise, he was. He could comment on everyone and everything.[LNB] 'I tried it once at Coventry. We had played them the year before and Dion Dublin had bounced us all over Highfield Road. We stood in the tunnel the next season (1998-99) and I shouted, "Hey, Dion, look who we've got, we've signed the big man". And I pointed to Marcel Desailly. It was Marcel's first game. Anyway, Dion scored the winner. It wasn't Marcel's fault. A s we were shaking hands, Dion just shook his head, laughing.'[LNB] So what can the Premier League expect from Di Matteo the manager? His guard has not dropped in the Championship. He has been undemonstrative, yet the job he has done shouldn't be underestimated. Mowbray's squad did not need a massive overhaul. Gabriel Tamas, a Romania centre half, and Chile vicecaptain Gonzalo Jara added muchneeded backbone to a side whose problems were in defence.[LNB] 'Managers should not be seen so much,' said Di Matteo. 'We have to do the work that no-one sees. The players are the main actors. That's the way I look at management. My job will be to shield the players from criticism and praise them when they do well. I am passionate, but I have to stay rational to make a decision.[LNB] 'I can raise my voice when it's needed, but during the game they will take on very little information. As a coach, there is not much you can do during the game.[LNB] 'Did you see me, though, when we scored our third goal against Leicester? I can get excited.'[LNB] How is he going to cope with having his every decision picked over in the Premier League. 'Hmm,' he replies. 'How deeply will they look at me?' I reply that the scarf worn by Mancini flew off the shelves when he took over from Hughes.[LNB] 'They will analyse my dress sense?' he says. 'Really? Oh dear. I need to buy some new clothes, then.' He thinks about it for a moment. 'Or at the very least a navy blue and white scarf.' [LNB] England boss Fabio Capello seeks support in bid to land Wayne BridgeChelsea striker Didier Drogba feels the strain of playing through painTHE FIRING LINE: Gianfranco Zola is left praying for an Italian Job - the West Ham boss is hot for the chop[LNB] [LNB]
