Heynckes backs Di Matteo for Chelsea job

Caretaker Blues boss Di Matteo will pit his wits against Heynckes at the Allianz Arena this weekend in what could be his last match in charge.

Di Matteo has admitted he does not think becoming the first manager to lead Chelsea to European Cup glory would make any difference to his hopes of being kept on permanently.

Were Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to jettison him, he would become only the second man to lose his job immediately after winning the Champions League.

Heynckes was the first, having left Real Madrid after its 1998 triumph, and he saw no reason why Di Matteo should suffer the same fate.

The 67-year-old had nothing but praise for the sensational rescue act his opposite number had performed since replacing the sacked Andre Villas-Boas.

Heynckes said: "We must not forget that he has brought Chelsea all the way to the final with a very calm attitude.

"It seems he's a very cool person who's very much in control.

"Step by step, he's improved contact with the players and created harmony. That harmony can be felt.

"He's done a marvellous job and I can't see why whether he wins tomorrow or not would have consequences. You need continuity.

"I don't think there's any argument against him continuing."

Heynckes claimed he had no problem with his own demise at Real, claiming he would have jumped had he not been pushed, and insisted he understood why Abramovich might want to appoint a manager who had won multiple titles.

But he added of Di Matteo: "He makes an excellent impression on me and, if I was Abramovich, I would continue with this young man."