Chelsea can revive their inconsistent season by drawing on their well-documented determination and desire, according to Mark Schwarzer.
The 41-year-old back-up goalkeeper became the oldest man to make his Champions League debut on Wednesday night, and delivered the clean sheet which ensured Blues topped their group with a 1-0 win against Steaua Bucharest.
While the result meant Chelsea easily made the knockout stages of the competition, and they are sitting third in the Premier League and contesting all competitions, their season has been characterised by inconsistency.
And Schwarzer says the players have it in them to turn that around.“I don’t think playing fantastic football in the group stages and then getting knocked out in the next round is a great thing,” said the Australian veteran.
“I think you want to build up, and you want to be there at the end of it.
“Chelsea showed a couple of years ago that it’s not necessarily always the team that performs the best on the day that wins. But it’s the determination and the desire.
“I think at this club that’s definitely something they’ve got. With the added bonus of world class players, which is unbelievable.”
Schwarzer, signed from Fulham in the summer as back-up to Petr Cech, was largely untroubled in Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest.
A couple of saves justified his selection over the unusually off-form Cech, who is expected to be restored to the first XI for Saturday's Premier League visit of Crystal Palace.
Schwarzer added: “We’re still very much in touch with Arsenal who are top of the league. We’re third in the table.
“All I can say is that when we do hit our straps it’s going to be interesting.”
