Di Matteo Discloses Chelsea's Tactical Plans

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo insists that the club will not make any major changes to the team's playing style this season.

The Blues laid emphasis on a solid defence after the Italian took charge earlier this year and went on to win the Champions League and FA Cup. And the manager has stated that despite signing some young attacking players, such as Brazil midfielder Oscar, Belgium forward Eden Hazard and Germany winger Marko Marin, the team's focus on defence will not be sacrificed this season as well.

"There will not be radical changes. We will try to make some changes. With the integration of these new players, inevitably we will change how we play a bit. But I never said we were going to play attacking football - we will play to try and win games," the Daily Star quoted the 42-year-old as saying.

Di Matteo has also said that fans will need to be patient with new signing Hazard. The Belgian arrived at the west London club this summer with a huge reputation earned at Ligue 1 outfit Lille. And the Blues boss thinks that the club and the fans should give the 21-year-old some time to settle at Stamford Bridge.

"Of course we are looking for Eden to be incisive - but we have to be patient. He is a young man, he has come from a different league in France and we need to give him time to adapt," ESPN quoted Di Matteo.

Hazard could make his Chelsea debut against Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield on 12 August.

Chelsea went down 1-3 to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, throwing away a 1-0 lead, in what was a third straight pre-season loss, after defeats to both AC Milan and an MLS All-stars in their final two games of their United States tour.

Brighton manager and former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet has backed the Blues to recover from the defeats in time for the Community Shield game.

"I'm sure they will get there. I can see what he means, but I am sure they will get it back because they are world-class players, and as soon as they are playing for something it is going to be different for sure," Chelseafc.com quoted Poyet.