Roberto Di Matteo insists he will have "no problem" if winning the Champions League fails to convince Chelsea to give him the manager's job full-time.
Caretaker boss Di Matteo gave his clearest hint yet that he does not expect owner Roman Abramovich to keep him on beyond the end of the season following Sunday afternoon's Barclays Premier League win over Blackburn.
The 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge could be Di Matteo's final home game at the helm and although he gave little away in his post-match lap of honour, his press conference was a different matter.
Asked if he thought the outcome of Saturday's Champions League final would determine whether he was at the club next season, Di Matteo said: "I don't think so, no, but I have no problem with it."
Di Matteo added of the lap of honour: "We've had a very intense nine weeks here together and it's been fantastic.
"And we are all looking forward to next Saturday as well.
"It's been very emotional because I feel very responsible with this club because I've played here, I've been part of it, so it's been a nice day."
Di Matteo's chances of going out on a high next weekend could depend on whether defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill win their battles to recover from hamstring injuries.
The Italian revealed that fight would "probably" go right up to the day of the game.
Di Matteo rested all of his likely starters against Bayern Munich on Sunday afternoon, although Didier Drogba did come off the bench to make what could also be his farewell Stamford Bridge appearance.
Florent Malouda is one of those who played today who was set to be in the squad at the Allianz Arena but the winger failed to complete the first half.
Di Matteo said: "We took him off - precautionary - with a little problem with his hamstring.
"We'll assess him over the next day or two but hopefully he'll recover as soon as possible."
Chelsea's hopes of upsetting the odds in Munich were arguably boosted last night by Bayern's 5-2 DFB-Pokal final thrashing by Borussia Dortmund, which Di Matteo watched in Berlin.
"I don't think it really matters much how many goals they conceded the other night," said Di Matteo, who nevertheless admitted he had picked up "a few interesting ideas".
Di Matteo's priority after taking charge just over two months ago was securing Champions League qualification, which sixth-placed Chelsea can only now do by winning Saturday's final.
Whoever is manager next season will be expected to challenge for the Premier League title, and when asked if his squad were good enough to do so, Di Matteo said: "There's a very good group with a lot of quality but the other teams, they seem to be strengthening all the time as well.
"There are a lot of teams involved now in the race for the title and the fourth spot."
Unlike Di Matteo, Steve Kean was adamant he would still be in charge at Blackburn next season, despite their relegation to the npower Championship.
Kean, who will meet the club's owners in India this week, said the rebuilding job "starts straight away".
He added: "We also have to try and fight for the players we have because, no doubt, other clubs will be swarming around and try and take them.
"That's the first part of the rebuild - making sure you keep the squad together."
One of those players is goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who was wearing a protective boot today as he watched from the sidelines after suffering ankle ligament damaged.
Kean said: "It doesn't need surgery but it does need five to six weeks in that boot before the tendon and the ligament can heal."
Kean all but conceded defeat in his bid to keep Junior Hoilett, whose contract expires this summer.
Arsenal have been linked with the forward and Kean, who was once again subjected to chants of "Kean out" today, said: "I don't think it is going to be just clubs in this country.
"I'm told that there is interest from abroad. I can understand why because he has had some great performances, not only this season, but the past couple of seasons.
"We'll make a last-ditch effort to put something in front of him. You never know."
