3rd May, 2012
Roberto Di Matteo has admitted that Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four are in tatters after a sublime brace from Papiss Demba Cisse fired Newcastle to a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Di Matteo’s side gave a tired performance as their recent gruelling schedule finally caught up with them on Wednesday and Newcastle took advantage to boost their own challenge for a Champions League place.
Cisse opened the scoring midway through the first half with a ferocious strike and the Senegal striker wrapped up Newcastle’s best away display of the season with an astonishing dipping volley from wide on the left touchline in second half stoppage-time.
Chelsea are now four points behind fourth placed Tottenham and fifth placed Newcastle with just two games remaining and interim manager, Di Matteo, conceded that his team will probably have to win the Champions League final against Bayern Munich later this month to qualify for next season’s tournament.
“It’s going to be difficult now for us to reach fourth spot,” Di Matteo said.
“We are behind now. If we look back over the season, we lost many points in many places and that is why we are in the position we are.