Roberto Di Matteo has offered his thoughts on his backroom staff in an interview with the Birmingham Mail.
Di Matteo, who won the Champions League and FA Cup in his time with Chelsea, has wasted no time in assembling his backroom staff since his appointment as Remi Garde’s permanent successor at the beginning of June.
His backroom staff includes his former Chelsea team-mate and West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke and former Tottenham coach Kevin Bond.
Speaking about Steve Clarke and Kevin Bond, the former Schalke manager said:
I’ve chosen Steve Clarke as my assistant manager.
We’ve known each other for 20 years.
He’s worked as an assistant at many clubs and he’s been a manager himself.
Also, most importantly, he was a manager in the Championship last season so he has great knowledge of the league.
Kevin Bond is the first team coach.
Again he has a wealth of experience.
He has worked at many different clubs and has experience of the Premier Leauge and the Championship.
He got promoted with QPR a couple of seasons ago.
Di Matteo also offered his thoughts on the Italian contingent of his backroom team, with former Manchester City goalkeeping coach Massimo Battara and fitness coach Massimilano Marchesi joining him in B6.
He’s the goalkeeping coach.
He worked with me in Germany as well.
He was at Man City before.
He’s a very good goalkeeping coach who hopefully can improve our goalkeepers.
Then the fitness and conditioning coach.
He’s been at Inter Milan for the last two years.
His job will be to get the boys the fittest they can be.
The additions to backroom staff may not yet be complete, with Di Matteo reportedly keen to add a performance analyst to Villa’s sports science department whilst head of recruitment Paddy Reilly is likely to be replaced.
