Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata Can Play Together – Roberto Di Matteo

Sunday, 23rd September, 2012

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo is confident that he can play Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata in the same side.

Di Matteo fielded the trio against Stoke City in the Premier League yesterday and, though he believes they did well, noticed a definite lack of width.

relatedNewsStory The Blues beat Stoke 1-0 thanks to a late, late goal from Ashley Cole but, while Di Matteo was delighted to get the win, it was the possibility of regularly playing Oscar, Hazard and Mata, a trio that would strike fear into any defence, which was on his mind.

"It’s the first time we have tried it, it certainly needs more work and practice, to tactically integrate them into our system", said the Italian to his club’s official site, when questioned about the three playing together.

And Di Matteo believes that all that is needed is a little time and the development of more understanding.

"I thought today it worked very well, but it will take time for them to know each other better.

"I want them to have mobility and rotation, they are very intelligent at finding free space, we lacked a bit of width at times so we needed our full backs to provide us with that."

Di Matteo is unlikely to play the trio together in the Blues’ next match, which is a visit from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup on Tuesday.

However, next weekend Chelsea travel to Arsenal and, given the mean-spirited nature of the Gunners defence so far this season, Di Matteo may well feel he needs the creative talents of Oscar, Hazard and Mata on the pitch at the same time.