FLORENT Malouda says Chelsea have to work harder unless they want their title hopes to go the same way as their European dreams.
The Blues have been left to concentrate on domestic football after being dumped out of the Champions League by former boss Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan on Tuesday.
It means Sunday’s trip to Blackburn takes on greater significance to their season. And Malouda believes the only way to put things right is for the team to roll up their sleeves.
He said: "We are still in a good position, and we have to react in the right way now.
"It still can be a wonderful season and we have to stay positive.
"It’s not easy when you lose, but we are all behind the manager and we have to work harder."
Malouda has had little time to analyse what went wrong against Inter, but is sure lessons can be learned.
"We had to be stronger than that to go through and we failed," he admitted.
"We have to analyse this and think about the future now - but they won the tie at the San Siro.
"Although Inter deserved our respect, we gave them too much."
It is been four years since Chelsea exited the Champions League at such an early stage, and pressure is already mounting on boss Carlo Ancelotti.
History has shown owner Roman Abramovich expects more from his managers than the FA Cup.
And as if one ghost from their past in the form of Mourinho was enough this week, on Wednesday night Chelsea face another former boss, Avram Grant, now in charge of beleaguered Portsmouth, who were docked nine points this week for entering administration.
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