Posted by Thomas Rooney

It may well be considered by those using a gambling mobile as the least important competition that Chelsea are in, but it also represents the first piece of silverware available this season and the former West Brom boss wants full focus from his team.

Di Matteo scored in Chelsea’s 2-0 League Cup win over Middlesbrough in the 1998 final of course, a victory that helped the team go on to bigger and better things as the season went on.

Speaking ahead of this week’s home tie with Liverpool, he said: “From our first game in the competition, you could see we set out to win it. It's a way of winning a cup and can also give a positive momentum if you win a trophy in that part of the season.”

“The success under Luca [Vialli] gave the team real belief and momentum, it was a real positive effect to go on and win the Cup Winners' Cup, and finish the season well.”

As well as being a valuable trophy to win, the Carling Cup also gives Chelsea the chance to play some of their younger players with Josh McEachran and Romelu Lukaku hoping for a chance to impress.

Referring to these two, Di Matteo said: “Josh is a great talent, a good player, but look at the competition he has in his position, they are all senior international players, but he will definitely be the future of the club.”

“I'm sure Lukaku knew he wouldn't be able to just walk into the team. He has to work hard and when he gets his opportunity show he deserves to be in the team, it's very simple.”

As for Liverpool, they too are after victory in this quarter-final as they search for their first piece of silverware under Kenny Dalglish in his second spell at the club.

It is therefore set to be a very intense match at Stamford Bridge, with the freedom for both teams to express themselves at the same time. Goals are expected and entertainment is a certainty.

Di Matteo and Chelsea would love revenge for the league defeat a couple of weeks ago too, as well as building on their victory over Wolves at the weekend. They need as much momentum as they can get going into a busy run of fixtures in December.