Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has called on his players to take more of a tactical lead in games.
The Blues have won just one of their last six league games and drawn both of their outings with Hiddink in the dugout, leaving them only three points clear of the relegation zone.
Hiddink admitted that the current squad are "different" from the crop he inherited during his first interim spell in 2009, and called on his players to emulate members of that side from seven years ago.
"This team is a bit different to 2009. I'm not going to say worse or better, but different. It was a bit easier last time because we weren't down in the table and there were players with big international experience," he told reporters.
"Look at the spine of that team - Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel, Alex. The centre was strong. It was a different team with different personalities. What I'm asking now of players, is that they take the lead from central defence into midfield. They must demand that of each other, not just in their commitment because they're all committed - I've seen their intensity in training and in games - but also tactically because you can do a lot with two or three words to your companion in front of you.
"People think we have a lot of power on the bench, but that's not true. You can just prepare the team and make the substitutions. I want the players to be in charge. To compare, there were a few more guys who took that tactical lead the last time I was here. Now I'm asking these guys to take the lead."
Chelsea next take on high-flying Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
Barney Corkhill
