Roberto Di Matteo says the outcome of Chelsea s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham will not affect their English Premier League rivalry.
Chelsea are two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the all-important battle to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
At Wembley Stadium on Sunday they will put aside league matters to fight for a place in the FA Cup final.
Chelsea triumphed in the competition as recently as 2010, while Spurs have not reached the final since they won in 1991.
Winning always has a positive psychological effect on individuals and on the team, Di Matteo said.
It certainly a better outcome to win, but I don t think it will have any impact on finishing fourth.
We played Spurs twice in the league and both games were quite balanced.
When you play in a one-off game it s difficult to say who is favourite because of the form that the teams are in.
The dynamic of the game is different because it s a one off. It s a decisive game.
We are in good form, we have had some good results and the players are confident.
Chelsea will be without first-choice defender Branislav Ivanovic, whose appeal against a three-match ban for violent conduct was rejected last week.
We are disappointed that Ivanovic s appeal has been dismissed, Di Matteo said.
So there is nothing else we can do now. We just have to get on with the decision and take it.
As if an FA Cup last-four showdown with London rivals Spurs was not big enough, on Wednesday Chelsea hosts Barcelona at the same stage of the Champions League.
It s now the period of the season where you play for all the trophies, so we are very pleased to be involved in this and we will do our utmost to be able to go to the final, Di Matteo said.
I will look at the team for Sunday and only think about what is the best team selection to win that game.
We have two opportunities to win something. We will try to win them both, that s our aim and that s what we are working towards.
I think they will both be difficult to win. That s the challenge that we face and we are ready for the challenge.
