Roman Abramovich under heavy criticism over Roberto Di Matteo sacking

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says he is shocked that Chelsea have sacked manager Roberto Di Matteo just months after the club's greatest night.

Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas Boas at Stamford Bridge in March and in his first six months won the Champions League and FA Cup, but was sacked on Wednesday morning following the 3-0 defeat to Juventus.

'It just goes to show you how precarious we are as Premier League managers, and you can't take anything for granted.

'The shock that should be there for the fans and the media should sound something to the owner of that football club because I don't know if that's the ninth manager or whatever it is in so many short years. It's just not fair.

'As far as I am concerned, he has done absolutely nothing wrong. His philosophy was to perhaps change the look of the team, which he has tried to do - that doesn't happen overnight - and he's won two competitions in less than a year, so it's unbelievable.

'He should walk straight into another job - probably at someone else's misfortune, unfortunately.'

Meanwhile, other people from the world of football have spoken out about the sacking of the former Blues' midfielder.
Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit, who signed Di Matteo for the club in 1996, said: 'OMG just found out that #robbiedimatteo has been sacked. That hurts me.'

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) took to Twitter to say: 'Roberto Di Matteo has been fired by Chelsea. The Roman emporer puts the thumbs down yet again.'
While former England cricket captain and lifelong Chelsea fan Alec Stewart (@StewieCricket) posted: 'Joke decision to sack DiMatteo. Wins Champs Lge & FA Cup. Currently 3rd in league. Need stability for sustained success. #nothappy

England batsman and Chelsea fan, Kevin Pietersen, who is currently touring India, said: 'With today's shocking news, I am sampling this footie school in Mumbai now.. #whyRomanwhy ??'

Elsewhere, Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand Tweeted: 'Wow, Chelsea have sacked their manager!! I'm a bit late I know but its a madness. The stability at our club is something our manager rarely gets praise for...don't under estimate that.'

And Sunderland striker Louis Saha, said on the social networking site: 'Can't believe Roberto di Matteo has been sack after such a good record.Especially when I think he had 2cope with Terry scandals. #harsh.'

While former Manchester City player Frannny Lee: 'Di Matteo sacked, very harsh decision! Shows how fragile a managers job can be.'

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan said: 'Ridiculous decision from Chelsea... RDM wins the trophy they have been chasing for years and now gets the Boot....'

TV presenter and Manchester United fan Eamonn Holmes said: 'The problem at Chelsea is not the Manager - it seems more like the owner !'

BBC presenter Dan Walker added: 'Binning Di Matteo seems harsh, brutal, a bit daft but sadly inevitable. What Abramovitch wants... #CFC'

Olympic sailing champion, Ben Ainslie: 'Sad to hear Di Matteo has gone. Ironically, for a stop-gap, he is the only manager to satisfy Abramovich's dream. What next? #cfc'