PLAYERS who missed out at Benfica cannot expect to automatically return to the starting line-up at Aston Villa tomorrow, says Roberto Di Matteo.

Chelsea's interim boss earned huge praise for the way he freshened up his team in Portugal.

His gamble to play Paulo Ferreira and Salomon Kalou (pictured) paid off handsomely, while Didier Drogba and Michael Essien were kept back for other battles in what will be a congested end to the season.

Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge only came off the bench late in the second half.

Yet the Blues boss insists it is not a simple matter of spreading the workload and automatically slotting in players who did not play in midweek.

“It doesn't work like that, that whoever misses one game is going to be in the next game,” Di Matteo said.

“I'm very happy that we have almost a full squad to select from – that's going to be very important for the rest of this run-in. But for every individual game, we'll have to look at which players are best to play that [particular] game.

“The fact that we changed six players [and won] satisfies me. I was trying to select a team that could play a good game against Benfica and the same will happen tomorrow – considering the strengths and weaknesses of Aston Villa and our own strengths.

“It's not a question of how many players we change, it's just a question of having a look at the players and how they are, and what their level of fitness and energy is.”

Di Matteo added: “The important thing is, we are in good form and shape and the spirit is good. We just try to take it into the next game. When you win, the confidence flows into the players and we are going to try and take that into the next games.”

Bransilav Ivanovic came through training without a hitch, and is back in the frame after missing out in Lisbon with a thigh strain.

The only likely non-starter is Raul Meirles, who is struggling to shake off a knock to his knee.

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