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Roberto Di Matteo: 'Chelsea will find it tougher in Champions League this season'

Di Matteo expects tougher times in Europe
© PA Photos
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo says that winning Champions League matches will be more difficult because opponents will be more motivated to defeat them.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has warned his players that winning matches in the Champions League this season will be more difficult than it was in 2011-12.

The Italian believes that the Blues' status as the reigning European champions will motivate the opponents to raise their game against them.

"We will be a scalp for the teams now," he is quoted as saying in The Mirror. "The motivation of the other teams will be stronger ­because we are the holders.

"I am sure a lot of managers will use that to motivate their players."

Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by Juventus at Stamford Bridge in their opening Group E game earlier this month.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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