Goal.com

Apr 23, 2012 8:30:00 PM

The Italian interim boss will send his team out for the Champions League clash at Camp Nou with instructions to extend the Blues' slim advantage from the first leg

Chelsea interim manager Roberto Di Matteo has insisted that he will send his side out with a view to winning their Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona.

The Blues are leading the tie courtesy of a Didier Drogba goal in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, but the coach has believes that playing to defend their modest 1-0 lead would be very dangerous considering the talent of the opposition.

Di Matteo told reporters: "It is too difficult to play for a goalless draw. To score would give us a greater advantage but we all know how difficult it is going to be.

"Ultimately Barcelona will create chances against any team and we will have to try to score a goal," continued the Italian, "but we will also try to limit the chances they create against us."

Despite instructing his team to attack at the Camp Nou, Di Matteo has praised his side's solid defensive form in recent games, which include clean sheets against Barcelona and Arsenal in their last two outings.

And the Italian went on to praise the performances of Gary Cahill, who came in to replace the injured David Luiz, alongside John Terry.

"I always talk about the collective performance that helps us defend as a team and every individual has to do their job within it," Di Matteo continued.

“But I am very pleased with the way our defenders have been playing lately. We have defended very well and we have been impressed with Gary since he joined."

However, the 41-year-old kept his team selection close to his chest, with the likes of Drogba and Luiz still a doubt ahead of Tuesday’s clash: "I am going to assess the physical and mental state of the players in the final training and make my team selection tomorrow morning.”

The possibility of picking up yellow cards is also something the Chelsea boss is wary of, with key players such as Ashley Cole, Branislav Ivanovic and Ramires only one booking away from suspension.

But he has instructed his players to focus on the game at hand, not any prospective ban for the final.

Di Matteo added: "Whatever happens happens, you cannot speculate on bookings.”

“We cannot be thinking about that in the game tomorrow, the players must be fully focused on their tasks and their responsibilities in the game."

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