Chelsea players´ last chance in Champions League

Chelsea’s temporary manager Guus Hiddink realises an encounter with Barcelona could represent the final chance for their current crop of players to achieve Champions League success.

The West London side host the Spanish champions at Stamford Bridge bidding for the right to feature in the European showcase final for the second successive season, following last year’s Moscow defeat to Manchester United.

In the build up to the fixture, the age of the Chelsea squad has been highlighted, with some key players now in their thirties.

Hiddink is only in temporary charge, but will have a say in who stays at the club next campaign.

It is clear that there are likely to be changes, so it could prove as a final chance for the combination of Michael Ballack, 32, Didier Drogba, 31, Frank Lampard, 30 and Nicolas Anelka, 30, to win the competition with the club.

Blues have reached five semis – and one final – in the past six years, and Hiddink said: “These players don’t have five, six or seven more years to have the same chances they have had in recent years.

“It’s very respectable that Chelsea made it to five semi-final in the past six years – it is a sign of big ambition.

“But this is the last occasion for these players to be where they want to be.

“They have a lot of desire to win the Champions League. We must play with intelligence and emotion – if we combine both we have a very good chance.”

Following the goalless draw in Spain last week, Barcelona have been critical of Chelsea’s tactics, accusing them of playing negatively and behaving over aggressively.

They then disposed of Spanish championship rivals Real Madrid with ease, winning 6-2 at the Bernabeu over the weekend.

As a result, motivation within the Barca camp is now at a high, but Hiddink watched the La Liga encounter and is confident he will keep Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o at bay.

“Every game is different, and these are different circumstances,” he explained. “It was a respectable performance and scoring six will have given them a tremendous boost, but I think it will be different in this one.”

German midfielder Ballack has fantastic experience in this competition, and his creativity will be key as Chelsea target victory.

“I see him (Ballack) in training, and there is a big desire from him to play in big games,” Hiddink said.

“He has played in so many in the past so he is very anxious to go into another one here. He is fully motivated and he will show that.”