Chelsea travel to FC Copenhagen tomorrow chasing their final hope of silverware this season.
On Saturday, their miserable season slumped to a new low as they crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Everton. With their English Premier League title all but gone, captain John Terry has urged his team-mates to prove their support for under-pressure boss Carlo Ancelotti by turning things around - starting tomorrow.
"The players are 100 per cent behind the manager," he said. "He's got total confidence in us, and that will remain the same. We believe in the manager and the players."
Ancelotti was twice backed by owner Roman Abramovich at the end of 2010 following Chelsea's worst run in the league for almost 15 years. A mini-revival followed but the past fortnight has witnessed another calamitous run of results that sees them in real danger of failing to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League. England defender Terry said: "We are where we are - we have to deal with that. We have to man up a little bit as a group of players and take responsibility."
Admitting he had lost sleep during the current malaise, he added: "It's down to myself as captain, Lamps (Frank Lampard) and Didier (Drogba) - as well as the rest of the squad who have a responsibility - to look at their own form, their own characters and just make sure we stay together. We've always come out the other end."
The players are 100 per cent behind the manager.
Chelsea's John Terry
Terry even managed to put a positive spin on Chelsea having flopped in the league and FA Cup. "That could be a blessing in disguise," he said, insisting the Champions League was the one he really wants. It's the one that's eluded the football club and myself as a player. So we aim to go to Wembley and hopefully lift this trophy."
Fernando Torres, Nicolas Anelka, Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa will all start the match, while David Luiz is cup-tied and Alex (knee) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) are still sidelined.
FC Copenhagen will be out to take advantage of Chelsea's problems. Head coach Stale Solbakken revealed the more "daft" members of his squad reckoned they were a better team than the Premier League champions, but even if that is not true, they can still cause Chelsea problems.
Copenhagen have not played a competitive match since their final Champions League Group game more than two months ago, but they appear far from overawed about a game being billed in Denmark as the biggest in the club's history. "It's been the longest preparation ever," declared a relaxed Solbakken. "Since January 10, we have been preparing for this game and this game only.
"Maybe we haven't had the opposition we've needed to be at our best level, but the players are in good shape and confident," he went on.  "Some of my players are so daft that they think they're a better side than Chelsea. Maybe I should be talking them down a bit. Some have only lost one or two games playing in this side, so they think it's easy. Confidence is very high in the team." (fifa)