Interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has claimed that he has the backing of all of his players despite speculation that the club is ruled by player power.

Andre Villas-Boas's tenure at Stamford Bridge was dogged by claims of a rift between him and his senior players, but Di Matteo earlier rubbished Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's claims that Chelsea's English players run the club.

"I feel I have everybody on side," said the Italian.

"I have spoken individually to almost all of them over these five days because I believe this is a team effort and we need everybody to be able to pull in the same direction.

"They all know what the task is for the next two months of the season and they are all on board."

Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

Written by
Barney Corkhill