Rafael Benitez has been brought in until the end of the season as interim first team manager with the Blues expected to make a move for former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, who is taking a year sabbatical, in the summer.

“I think I would be absolutely delighted if I were him, because he was never going to be the manager,” he told reporters.

“He’s taken the job on and won the Champions League and the FA Cup, which nobody can take away from him.

“He’s got a big pay-off and he can get on with his life. He was only part-time anyhow. To do what he’s done is fantastic, I’m really pleased for him.

“You can’t take what he’s done away from him. A lot experienced managers have strived and will strive to do what he’s done.

“I think it will almost be a relief for him now. He’s had the cream so let them get on with the rest.

“It will be interesting to come up against the new manager in the cup next month. I’ve had my moments with him. That’s a great appointment for him isn’t it? I think I’d have rung up saying ’just take me until the end of the season’. ”

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Wigan boss Roberto Martinez believes Di Matteo should be proud of the success he brought to Stamford Bridge.

“You don’t like managers losing their job but in this case, with Roberto Di Matteo, he can be a very proud man.

“To win the Champions League and the FA Cup – sometimes it can take a lifetime for a manager to do what he has achieved in a very short space of time. I think he can be extremely proud.”

Stoke boss Tony Pulis believes the relationship owners and the manager is vital if the latter is to survive in his job.

“The big thing for me is the people in charge of football clubs – they are the people who hire and fire managers,” he said.

“If you look at Sir Alex Ferguson and what the Glazers have done in backing him (at Manchester United), the board of directors at Arsenal and the way they have backed Arsene Wenger and the Everton situation with David Moyes and the chairman there, who have a fantastic relationship – it is such an important thing now.

“With the ebb and flow in football, you can be very good for a couple of weeks and very bad for a few weeks, and you need strength behind you.

“You need people who are going to stick behind you and be strong enough to do that, and understand what the game is all about. Nobody flushes through it straight away.

Former Blues boss Jose Mourinho was philosophical about Di Matteo’s departure.

“That’s football,” Mourinho told Sky Sports 2 last night. “I’m never happy when a manager is sacked. It can happen to me and is a feeling that no one likes to have.

“But at the same time, everyone knows I like Chelsea.

“I supported Roberto and I wished him to do well, and I will support the next Chelsea manager.

“I wish good luck to Benitez.”