I need trophy AND top-four finish

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS ... Roberto Di Matteo knows what he needs to do succeed at Chelsea

ROBERTO DI MATTEO says he has achieved nothing yet at Chelsea.

Blues’ interim boss insists he must win a trophy AND secure a top-four finish to be judged a success.

Di Matteo has transformed the club since taking over from Andre Villas-Boas last month, guiding Chelsea into the semi-finals of the Champions League and the FA Cup.

Yet the modest Italian says that seven victories in his first nine games will count for nothing unless that winning streak continues right to the end of the season.

Di Matteo, 41, insisted: “I’m working my socks off to help this team become successful. But so far we have not proved anything and we have not achieved anything,” “It’s a great honour for me to coach a club like Chelsea and we are in a good moment right now.

“A month ago were in a situation where we had a two-goal deficit to Napoli in the Champions League, we were further adrift of the top three in the Premier League and we were weren’t in the FA Cup semi-finals.

“The players have done extremely well to turn things around but it will only be a successful season if we finish in the top four and win a trophy.

“We have to ensure we finish well to guarantee Champions League football for next season. That’s the big target.

“At the moment there are four teams fighting for the last two qualifying places and it will go right to the last game of the season.

“I’d prefer if we were challenging for first or second place rather than fourth but the players all know how important this is and must not slacken off. Every player here has a professional attitude. Most of them have a contract for next season and it is in everyone’s interests to finish this season well.”

Yet Di Matteo knows his ageing squad are starting to feel the pace.

Skipper John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole will all be missing for today’s game against Wigan.

They play Barcelona twice, Spurs in the FA Cup semi at Wembley plus Wigan, Fulham and Arsenal in the next 17 days.

Di Matteo added: “We lacked a bit of sparkle against Benfica the other night and I will have to make full use of my squad to freshen up the team.

“Managing our injuries will be vital because we’ve got a very demanding schedule in the next few weeks.

“But it’s exciting to have these big games coming up. Many other clubs would like to be in our position.”