Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo admits Champions League football has been key to their transfer policy. Di Matteo admits the club could not have beaten Manchester City to Eden Hazard's signature without Champions League football or won the race for Brazilian starlet Oscar.

The two 21-year-olds cost £60m and represent the costly end of Roman Abramovich's rejuvenation programme.

"They want to be involved in the biggest club competition in the world," said Di Matteo. "So it would have been extremely difficult to attract these players."