Barcelona vs. Chelsea: Why Roberto Di Matteo Deserves the Full-Time Manager Job

As John Terry slowly strode off the huge Camp Nou pitch, 100,000 Catalans' spirits began to rise.

They could smell blood. Their team, possibly the greatest team of all time, had a man advantage against a sullen Chelsea team who were on the brink of another heartbreak in the Champions League.

The camera cut to Roberto Di Matteo. I expected to see a man under pressure, a see man frantically discussing with his staff, but what I saw was astounding. 

The Swiss-Italian Di Matteo stood, chomping on chewing gum like a man on the street, with his arms crossed, deeply contemplating his next move.

That, to me, is a man in control of his emotions, ready to stand up to the adversity presented. 

He made the necessary reshuffle to the defense. He moved the Kenyan-like Ramires to right-back and Jose Bosingwa inside, leaving Drogba to drop deep to make up the numbers in midfield.

The team was still in disarray, however, and they conceded through a slick Andres Iniesta goal.

But when all seemed dead and buried, Ramires, with Marathon-like strides, broke from his own half and was played through by Lampard. He subsequently chipped the ball majestically over Valdes and gave Chelsea hope.

Di Matteo then had the biggest halftime team talk of his career ahead of him.

Chelsea re-entered the gladiatorial arena and set about making history.

They set up in a 4-5-0 with Drogba on the left, doing a great job in stemming the adventurous runs of the ever-green Dani Alves. 

From halftime on, Di Matteo only made great decisions. The formation change and the introductions of Kalou and Torres were well timed. His grace in victory will endear him to many onlookers.

Cast your fickle mind back nearly two months ago to the 4th of March. The Chelsea legend was put in place in interim charge after the necessary sacking of Andre Villas-Boas.

Stories of lineup leakages and player unrest were rife during AVB's short stint at Stamford Bridge.

The away leg at Napoli was the last straw for the Portuguese manager. After a 3-1 defeat and a rake of terrible performances and mistakes by players and management alike, his time was up. 

In stepped Di Matteo and look at the job he's done.

Compare Chelsea now to two months ago. Chalk and Cheese. 

If this doesn't get him the job, I really don't know what will.

And for Di Matteo, personally, from being sacked by West Brom and turned away by Birmingham City to a Champions League final—is it to soon to compare him to Mourinho?