JT - "The squad have a responsibility to look at their own form".

John Terry has spoken ahead of tomorrow night's game. His message to the fans, our opposition and to the other players is clear. He said:

'Fernando could definitely be the key, and being in the position we are at the moment, away from the Premier League a little bit and out of all other competitions, we can pretty much focus on the Champions League. We know it is going to be tough but with this being our main focus and with Fernando in the squad as well, this could be the key for us.

Being knocked out of those competitions may be a blessing in disguise. The Champions League is the one that has eluded this football club and me as a player, so hopefully we can go all the way to Wembley.

At times we have played very well. Anyone who watched the game against Everton could see we made a lot of good chances and should have killed the game off. We let them in right at the last minute and we have done that too many times this year. It is just about getting our confidence back to go a goal up and chase the next goal. We need to restore the confidence in the squad; we certainly have the players to do so.

We want to improve where we are in the League; we owe that to the fans and the football club. We are certainly not giving up, mathematically we might be out of it a bit but at the same time we could have a big say in what happens.

Who knows, we still have to play Manchester United, if we can go away and get a good result at Old Trafford then we could still be right in it. We are certainly not giving up.

It's been difficult but at times we have shown our quality. We have picked up good wins away from home against Bolton and Sunderland. I thought the Sunderland game was possibly a turning point as we came back from a goal down.

If we had beaten Liverpool I feel we could have gone on a run but we are where we are and as a group of players we need to take responsibility.

It now needs to come. We've had players out with injury, missed big characters at big times in the season but the squad have a responsibility to look at their own form. That's the worst thing to think about, you look at Spurs and Man City, who are picking up points at a crucial time, and you worry. I have lost a little bit of sleep, it is stressful.

It will be disastrous for the football club if we don't qualify for the Champions League. It's not over; we're not giving up by any shadow of a doubt. We aim to get in the top three so we get automatic qualification.

We went through a bad spell in the Premier League last year. You had the speculation that the squad's getting too old and then we went on to win the Double. Nobody comes out and apologises or corrects themselves. We are a year older and next year we're going to be another year older. That doesn't take away from the quality we have.

The manager has brought in two world-class players. In the League we have under achieved a little bit but we believe we still have the quality and with these guys coming in we can really push on.'

(Source: Chelseafc.com)

So let's break this down. JT makes some really key points. He makes sense about Torres. Listen, every single one of us are aware of the quality he has and we all know it will only take that first goal to set him on his way in a Chelsea shirt. His undoubted quality is a fine addition to our squad and it's someone like him, along with Drogba and Anelka that could come up with that special something that can get us to Wembley.

Is being knocked out of the FA Cup a blessing in disguise?. I guess being honest you have to agree even though it hurts being knocked out, just like losing any game. Right now though, you have to say, we need to focus on finishing as high as possible in the league and to get together and make a realistic challenge for the Champions League, so without the distraction of the FA Cup I would have to agree with JT.

JT on recent games, I agree to a point. We do need to chase that second goal and put these sides to bed and to create more and more chances. I wrote a blog post today about the possible cause for our disappointing run of results and I believe that to be the pace of our play. We need to play at a higher tempo as when we do, we cause teams all sorts of problems as they are unable to get themselves set defensively against us.

He is right, the players owe it to us fans but to themselves. I like the fact he has pointed out that they need to look at their own form. Carlo was also featured on here today stating that he believes only three players to be playing at 100% and I am sure the players know the same. It's up to them to put it right.

I think you will agree that the most frustrating thing for all of us is the fact that we know we have more than enough quality to win games, to be sitting right up there at the top of the table and challenging on all fronts. The simple fact is that the players have not delivered for one reason or another.



Carlo needs to find the perfect balance and it will take time with the new additions to our squad. I guess it comes down to the fact that in certain games we have shown glimpses of what we are capable of but it has been all too rare this season. Instead we have had to watch dire and woeful performances from a side that looks a shadow of ourselves and that is what is hard to take.

Carlo has come out and stated his position at the club. JT has spoken here as he has and it's now up to the players and everyone at the club to get ourselves out of this mini slump and back to where we belong.

KTBFFH.