Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo fears losing Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard in January. Di Matteo wants Cole and Lampard, who are free to sign pre-contract agreements with rival clubs in January, to stay and has repeatedly insisted they have many more years at the top.

Asked if he was worried about what could happen in January, Di Matteo said: "Yeah, but that's the world of football.

"That's how you live in this world, in this industry.

"We had the same last season with some players and, at the end of the day, we all have to be professional and try to do our best, even though maybe the contract is not sorted out."