Schalke 04 0 : 5 Chelsea FC - Blues romp into knockout stages

Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2014 by PA

Roberto Di Matteo played down the talk of a revenge mission as Chelsea visited Gelsenkirchen to take on his Schalke side - but it was embarrassment that greeted the Italian as the Blues eased into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insisted in the build-up to this clash that his side needed to keep up their good form to avoid blowing their place at the head of Group G and ending up playing in the Europa League.

But he need not have worried as his ruthless side blew Schalke away - dominating throughout and eventually running out clear 5-0 winners.

The Portuguese was also steadfast that he did not want to talk about Di Matteo's achievements at Stamford Bridge but did question whether the side the 44-year-old led to European Cup success was a good one.

The two exchanged a cursory handshake before kick-off that lacked the warmth of a meeting of friends but that was in stark contrast to the travelling Chelsea fans, who sang Di Matteo's name as the game got under way - and that was as good as it got for their former midfield favourite.

John Terry was suspended when Di Matteo oversaw Chelsea's memorable European Cup success in 2012 but the two celebrated together in Munich like the captain had been one of those out on the pitch.

And it was Terry who quickly took the sting out of any kind of payback mission Di Matteo was mounting having been axed by Roman Abramovich just six months after the biggest night in the club's history.

The 33-year-old rose to nod home a corner supplied by the impeccable Cesc Fabregas inside 60 seconds to silence the Veltins Arena.

Willian added a second and, when Jan Kirchhoff headed in an own goal two minutes before the break, the writing was on the wall.

Chelsea took their foot off the gas during times in the second half but switched on and decided to go for the kill with 15 minutes remaining, as substitutes Didier Drogba and Ramires got in on the goalscoring act.