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Chelsea defeat puts pressure on Roberto Di Matteo
ROBERTO Di Matteo has told his Chelsea players they now face a win-or-bust Champions League final against Bayern Munich after being beaten by Newcastle.
Papiss Cisse scored two incredible goals to secure a victory that keeps alive the Toon’s Champions League qualification hopes ahead of Sunday’s clash against Manchester City.
But defeat left Chelsea four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who won at Bolton. With only two Premier League games remaining, it now looks likely the Blues will have to beat Bayern to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Di Matteo said: “It’s going to be difficult now for us to reach fourth spot.
"The season has been difficult, but we will keep pushing until it is impossible. We won’t just give up.” Chelsea play the FA Cup final against Liverpool on Saturday before they continue their race for a Champions League spot and Di Matteo added: “We’re going to pick everybody up and get them going again to be ready for Saturday.
It’s going to be difficult now for us to reach fourth spot.
“We have a big game, a great final, on Saturday and we’ll go again. We’ll look forward to the FA Cup final. It’s a great event and the motivation is going to be there.”
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Cisse took his tally to 13 goals in 12 games since joining Newcastle in January for £10 million from German club Freiburg.
“The second goal was astonishing,” said boss Alan Pardew.
“Cisse took a chance, you could see he meant it and he hit the ball absolutely true. He’s in great form – the first goal was also a great goal and he deserves it because he works so hard.
“I had a laugh with Didier Drogba and said that you just have to take your hat off to him.”
Toon midfielder Cheick Tiote was carried off on a stretcher during the second half and a two-inch gash to his head was stitched up but Pardew said he will be fit to face Manchester City.