LONDON: Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo believes the race for fourth spot in the Premier League will go to the final game of the season after their 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Di Matteo’s men could have gone above fourth-placed Tottenham, who lost to Norwich earlier on Monday, had they beaten their west London rivals. But Frank Lampard’s penalty – his 150th Premier League goal – on the stroke of half-time was cancelled out by Clint Dempsey’s late header for Fulham.
The top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season gain direct entry into the Champions League group stages, with the fourth-placed side set for the qualifying round.
This draw left Chelsea two points behind Tottenham, their opponents in an all-London FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.
Di Matteo, interim manager following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, said Chelsea’s habit of conceding late goals – they’ve let in 20 in the final 10 minutes of games this season – was frustrating.
“You look at it and we’re closer to that fourth spot than we were,” said Di Matteo as he tried to put Monday’s result in the best possible light. “We have to look at it positively. We are closer now than we were a month ago. The biggest disappointment is that we conceded an equaliser late on. It’s been a pattern this season, conceding late goals.”
Fulham caused Chelsea problems throughout the first half and would have considered themselves unlucky to go in at half time a goal down.
The penalty appeared to have been given for Danny Murphy’s tackle on Salomon Kalou, but replays suggested it was Stephen Kelly’s challenge on the same player that saw referee Mark Clattenburg point to the spot.
Fulham had chances to equalise before US international Dempsey’s 16th goal of the season gained a point for the Cottagers.
Apologetic Balotelli admits Euro fears
Elsewhere, Mario Balotelli has apologised for his sending off in Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal at the weekend, expressing fears that it could mean he misses the European Championships.
The controversial 21-year-old was dismissed for two yellow cards after a pair of ugly challenges in the Premier League encounter that saw his side drop to eight points behind bitter rivals Manchester United in the title race.
“I’m very sorry for what happened, for the disappointment I’ve given Manchester City and in particular to Roberto Mancini for whom I have a lot of respect and I’m very fond of,” Balotelli told Italian news agency Ansa via his agent Mino Raiola.
“I really want to play for the national team but [on Sunday] I committed two fouls during the game.
“I haven’t breached the code of ethics. I’ve already missed out on the national team for some stupidity and I wouldn’t do it a second time.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2012.
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