Di Matteo: Arsenal win can inspire us against Manchester United

Oct 14 2010 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

ROBERTO Di Matteo believes last month’s win at Arsenal will inject his side with extra confidence going into Saturday’s game at Manchester United.

The Albion boss has remained level-headed throughout the highs and lows of his managerial career.

But he appreciates even he was surprised by the context of the Baggies’ 3-2 win at the Emirates – the first time the club had won away in the Premier League at one of the ‘Big Four’.

Albion are now aiming for their first victory at Old Trafford since 1978 – with United’s home also being the venue for Di Matteo’s last-ever game in England as a footballer.

“I don’t know all these stats,” he told the Birmingham Mail.

“Every now and then people give me statistics about not having won there for a century or half a century, but I’m not really aware of all that.

“I was pleased and I realised it was a good result (at Arsenal) because after the game my press officer hugged me, and that doesn’t happen very often.

“When that happened I realised it must have been a good result, but it’s really for the historians to talk about the past.

“For us it was a fantastic win and a great three points and it’s great for the history.

“But it’s 11 points on the board, which is great for us, but now we have to focus on what is ahead.

“We’re going to United with a positive mindset – like we have in all the games.

“We know it’s going to be a difficult place to go.

“United away from home have lost a few points but they have been really unfortunate because they’ve conceded really late goals.

“If it wasn’t for that they would probably be on the same points or just behind Chelsea.