Di Matteo: “Without a doubt, we’ll go out to win”

Chelsea’s manager is confident that his team is capable of eliminating Barça.

He confirmed that David Luiz will not play due to injury.

Lampard believes is his team’s chances of reaching the Champions League final.

Chelsea’s manager, Roberto Di Matteo, held a pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Barça this evening. Coming off the heels of the thrashing inflicted upon Tottenham this weekend in the FA Cup, the manager is optimistic about his team’s chances of progressing to the Champions League final. “We will try to take advantage of our good form, we are confident and motivated. Without a doubt, we’ll go out to win.” He added: “we want a good result, we mustn’t give them any space.” At the same time, the Italian is clear that “we need two perfect games to eliminate Barça.”

Di Matteo confirmed that defender David Luiz will be out of action for at least two weeks and he denied that Chelsea’s style of play has changed under his tutelage. “We play football, we have a great team with experienced players. We believe in our chances,” he indicated. He also expects that Barça are not too comfortable facing his team: “I think they don’t like to play against us, our style isn’t good for them. We have options.”

Frank Lampard also talked to the press. “We have to pressure them and maintain a high degree of concentration in order to stop players like Iniesta and Messi, if you give them space they are very dangerous,” he said. The midfielder agreed with his manager that Chelsea are capable of reaching the final: “I don’t care that we’re not favourites. We will be organised. Barça have a great team but we are confident in our chances.”

Lampard belongs to a stellar generation of Chelsea footballers that have yet to win the Champions League. On the team's failure to secure the European crown, the midfielder said: “it’s a disappointment to reach so may semi-finals and not win a Champions League title. We believe that our moment will come, for the Club and for the players. We believe in ourselves.”(via FCBarcelona.com)