Nov 01, 2012 01:13 AM EDT
Chelsea Transfer News: Di Matteo Unhappy with Refereeing; Calls for Officials to Treat Blues Fairly

Roberto Di Matteo is clearly not a happy man, despite Chelsea pulling off a comeback victory over Manchester United in the League Cup.

The Blues fell behind three times, but fought back on each occasion, with the game eventually going the home side's way 5-4. However, Di Matteo, whose side was on the receiving end of some bad refereeing decisions in the infamous 3-2 loss to Manchester United in the English Premier League Sunday, hit out at the referees.

"It's incredible that it always hits Chelsea Football Club," the Italian said. "So maybe that's something to think about, you know. We would just like to be treated fairly by everybody.

Referee Lee Mason had a firm control of things in the League Cup tie, hardly putting a foot wrong, and also awarding Chelsea two correct penalties. However, asked if he felt the referees had treated Chelsea unfairly on Wednesday, Di Matteo said: "I don't know."

Di Matteo insisted he was not concerned about refereeing decisions going against his side, because of the complaint lodged by the Blues against Sunday's referee Mark Clattenburg for using inappropriate language towards John Obi Mikel.

"I think the referees should be going into the games with the most confidence that they have," he said. "We're all under pressure here -- the players, the officials, the coaching staff -- to perform.

"And I don't think there's any prejudice from that point of view."

Di Matteo decided to start with Mikel and Juan Mata despite the race row surrounding the players, insisting he was happy with the mental state of the players, and would not have considered playing them had they not been in the right frame of mind.

"I spoke to my players in the last couple of days and, mentally, they were in the right frame of mind to play," he added.

"I wouldn't have played him (Mikel) if I had any doubt." Di Matteo, incidentally, took Mikel off at halftime, after the midfielder picked up a yellow card in the first half.

Ramires, who replaced him, scored what turned out to be the winner in extra time.

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