By ROB BEASLEY
ROBERTO DI MATTEO expects to be axed by Roman Abramovich — even if he wins the Champions League.
Chelsea’s FA Cup-winning caretaker boss fears the club’s billionaire owner is ready to dump him and appoint a big-name continental coach in the summer. And he may be right as bookmakers such as paddy power have him odds on for the sack in their sack race betting.
But that will not stop the Stamford Bridge favourite going all out for a remarkable Cup double against Bayern Munich in next Saturday’s Champions League final in Germany.
A senior Chelsea source revealed: “Robbie is determined to go for glory against Bayern, even though he’s resigned to leaving regardless of what happens in Munich. He has tried to talk to the club’s hierarchy about pre-season training for next season and been given very short shrift.
“That convinced him he really is just an ‘interim’ manager, filling the post until a full-time appointment can be made.
“He’s hugely disappointed after the miracles he has worked here since taking over from Andre Villas-Boas in March.
“Two Cup finals is an amazing success after inheriting that mess.
“And winning the FA Cup last Saturday was very special. He won it with Chelsea as a player, scoring that amazing goal against Middlesbrough in 1997, and now he has won it as a manager too.
“That guarantees him hero status with the fans but won’t budge the powers-that-be. Everyone knows Villas-Boas was appointed last summer to get rid of the older players. Di Matteo has the full support of all the players but, fundamentally, nothing has changed.”
The Londoners have been linked with departing Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, France coach Laurent Blanc and ex- England manager Fabio Capello as Abramovich prepares to appoint his SEVENTH full-time boss in eight years.
