17 September,2012 08:41 AM IST | | Agencies
The game against QPR almost played second fiddle in the build-up as the attention was focused solely on if the two defenders would shake hands with each other ahead of kick-off.
QPR's Ferdinand (left) refuses to shake John Terry's hand. Pic/AFP
Ferdinand ended up snubbing both Terry and Ashley Cole - who was a defence witness at the July trial - and Di Matteo was perfectly happy with the conduct of his own squad. "I have to say both sets of players showed a great attitude this afternoon. They focussed on the football and played the game in the right spirit," he told reporters.
"Our players handled the situation today very professionally. We offered (to shake hands), we did our part, if other people don't want to that's their decision.
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"I think we should shift the focus to the football side, not the handshake before and the handshake after." The game did eventually take centre stage and finished goalless. Di Matteo's only disappointment was that his side could not put the finishing touches to their chances.
He added: "The only disappointment is we didn't score the goals from the chances we created. Coming to Loftus Road is always difficult because of the history and the rivalry between the clubs." u00a0
