Di Matteo focused on the present
Roberto Di Matteo was determined not to make Chelsea's FA Cup final about his past or his future as he backed his players to make their own history.
Blues captain John Terry led the tributes to Di Matteo at the club's cup final media day, urging his team-mates to beat Liverpool at Wembley to help their caretaker manager land the job full-time.
But Di Matteo refused to contemplate the consequences of victory for his hopes of being handed the reins by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
One bookmaker has stopped taking bets on Di Matteo's coronation, so spectacularly has he transformed the club's fortunes since being placed in charge two months ago.
But he said: "I'm not thinking about that.
"People can speculate, write and say whatever they want.
"My position hasn't changed from day one. I know what I have to do from now until the end of the season."
He added of his job prospects: "It's totally irrelevant. I'm just thinking about tomorrow's [Saturday] game and bringing a trophy home.
"You work so hard all season for these reasons."
Di Matteo was grateful for the backing of his players, saying: "It's great if they feel confident because they're the ones out on the pitch who have to bring the win and the trophy home for us.
"It's good to see they have belief that we can have success together."
The 41-year-old is also the overwhelming choice among supporters and he added: "I always had a great connection and relationship with the fans, and will have in the future as well."
Di Matteo's status as a Chelsea hero dates back to the 1997 FA Cup final, when he scored the fastest ever goal in the showpiece match at the old Wembley.
Asked how often he thought about that goal, he said: "Not very often, to be honest.
"People remind me of that, usually when the competition is on, but I've moved on."
The Italian was similarly unsentimental about the fact that he and assistant Eddie Newton - who also scored that day - would be back at Wembley 15 years on.
That would have been unthinkable just two short months ago but Di Matteo said: "We want these guys to win tomorrow. That's what matters to us.
"That would be the biggest satisfaction for the coaching staff."
Di Matteo's goal against Middlesbrough kick-started the cycle of success that ultimately convinced Abramovich to buy Chelsea nine years ago.
They have won the FA Cup five times since 1997, more than any other club.
"No-one knew what the future held for us, but it's great we've been able to bring the trophy home so many times since," said Di Matteo, who has never lost a competitive match at Wembley as a player or a manager.
"I've always been fortunate at Wembley, as well, so hopefully we can continue this trend.
"You won't have many chances in your life to play and manage a club and win trophies, so that would be nice."