Chelsea interim coach Roberto Di Matteo’s decision to rest some of his big guns paid off as the Blues recorded a 1-0 win at Benfica in their Champions League quarter-final, first-leg match on Tuesday.
The Italian left Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Gary Cahill and Daniel Sturridge out of his starting lineup and one of the players brought in, Salomon Kalou, scored the only goal in the second half at the Stadium of Light.
“We’ve been playing so many high-intensity games, Manchester City last week, Spurs on Saturday and tonight was another one,” Di Matteo said on the club’s Web site.
“It’s a question of trying to energize the team and freshen it up. We knew Benfica played with a high tempo, so we needed fresh players who could run. I’m involving everybody in the squad. I’m rotating, we need everybody until the end of the season,” he said.
Chelsea are also through to the FA Cup semi-finals and, occupying fifth place in the Premier League, are desperate to claw their way into the top four to earn a place in next season’s Champions League.
“They are a good side with good individual players and a threat from set plays. I always felt we looked solid defensively, well organized and I always fancied us to score a goal,” he said.
Benfica defender Maxi Pereira said the tie was far from over.
“We played a good match tonight and I think we can win in London,” he said. “A lot could happen and it is not over yet.”
The second leg at Stamford Bridge is on Wednesday.
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