Robbie: We Need A Trophy

Last updated : 05 January 2003 By Rich Godden
Indeed, Chelsea have yet to win a trophy under Claudio Ranieri since he arrived in 2000. And Robbie believes that an FA Cup triumph would do the players' confidence a world of good.

Di Matteo is of course famous for scoring the quickest ever Cup final goal (and the quickest at Wembley to boot!) against Middlesbrough in 1997. It took him just 45 seconds to re-write the history books!!

Not content with scoring just one goal in a Wembley cup final, Robbie repeated the trick against Boro (again!) in the 1998 Coca Cola Cup final and then against Aston Villa in the 2000 FA Cup Final (the last at Wembley!)...

Here's what the Italian Stallion had to say, "The club is less under pressure to win a trophy than they were five or six years ago as they have a different philosophy as to what the team must achieve in developing young players.

"But whenever you can win a trophy it's a wonderful feeling. It gives confidence to the players, management, the club and to everybody.

"Once you start winning, then you believe that you can win everything else.''

Well, that certainly happened when Robbie was at the club! When asked whether or not the lack of turnover with the club's playing staff has helped us, he said "Knowing each other helps a lot so you improve, the same is happening here now as there is only one new player here. It's like when you move to a new house, it takes time to settle in."

And Robbie had a lot of kind words to say about Mr Ranieri, despite only playing the one game under his fellow Italian: "He got a lot of stick from the media and the fans, but although he hasn't changed much, he's improved his language skills a great deal and that has helped him a lot. Hopefully he will be successful as he deserves to be."

And what does the future hold for Robbie? Well... "I might do a coaching course. I'm not sure yet, but I'll probably do one as it's an experience to work with young players, although I can't see myself as a manager."

Finally, Robbie describes his memorable Cup final goal. Enjoy! "I remember Mark Hughes was right in front of me and wanted the ball. I thought `shall I or shan't I play the ball to him?'

"It was all in a split-second but I thought `no I'll shoot myself' so I just did. The celebration wasn't cool at all, it was just madness!''

What a legend!