#INSERT type:image caption:Roberto Di Matteo said he is focused on FC Schalke beating Chelsea. END#
Roberto Di Matteo insists that he is not out for revenge when his new club Schalke 04 take on his old employer Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Two years ago, Di Matteo was sacked at Stamford Bridge only months after winning the 2012 Champions League final in Munich against hosts Bayern. But now he claims there are no hard feelings as he prepares to face the Blues for the first time.
"I am not for revenge," he told a pre-match news conference on Monday. "I had a very good time as a player and as a manager in London. I spent many years of my life there and am still in contact with some of the people and the players.
"But there's no time for sentimentality. The match is Schalke against Chelsea and I want to win with Schalke against Chelsea. There might time for emotions after the match. But right now it's only about preparing my team."
Schalke 04 go into the matchday five encounter with five points, three behind group leaders Chelsea, but one ahead of Sporting Lisbon and two ahead of NK Maribor.
"The group is still wide open. Every team has the chance to reach the knockout round," Di Matteo said. "Chelsea haven't lost a competitive game so far this season and have a lot of quality in their squad. You have to do everything right if you want to beat them.
"We'll give everything, as a win would put us in a very good position in the group."
In the Bundesliga at the weekend, Schalke beat VfL Wolfsburg 3-2, who had won their last eight competitive games, at the Veltins Arena, with Di Matteo starting in a 5-3-2 formation.
"My players won confidence in that win," he said.
The Royal Blues will be without long-term absentees Julian Draxler and Peruvian winger Jefferson Farfan for the Chelsea clash, but have all players from Saturday's victory available, with former Germany international Dennis Aogo also returning to the squad after sitting out a suspension at the weekend.