London: Chelsea's return to form since the sacking of Portuguese Andre Villas-Boas is down to the players rediscovering their passion for the game, interim manager Roberto Di Matteo said on Friday.
The Italian has overseen three consecutive wins since Villas-Boas was axed, culminating in the enthralling 5-4 aggregate victory over Napoli on Wednesday that earned the Londoners a Champions League quarter-final against Benfica.
The games are coming thick and fast for Chelsea, with second-tier Leicester City visiting Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the last-eight of the FA Cup and then a trip to Manchester City on Wednesday in the Premier League.
There was little optimism a few weeks ago but Chelsea are now suddenly buoyant and Di Matteo is being tipped by former manager Ruud Gullit for the permanent position.
"I've been speaking to the players individually ... to try and get them feeling the responsibility and make them aware of our targets, to bring a little bit of team spirit back, the spirit of sacrifice and passion for the game," Di Matteo told a news conference.
"I am looking to the future and we just have to get results. That's what we are focusing on."
Skipper John Terry and fellow central defender David Luiz should shrug off knocks in time for Sunday as Chelsea put all thoughts of Champions League glamour to one side.
"I think they will both be available," said former Italy midfielder Di Matteo, who scored inside the first minute in Chelsea's 1997 FA Cup final victory over Middlesbrough.
"There are a few knocks and bruises, it was very intense and physical (against Napoli), but we expect everybody to be ready. We have everybody fit and we will need everybody. It's difficult to leave certain players out for some games but we have such an intense schedule that it's great to be in this position," added Di Matteo.
"We obviously have to take into consideration that we played extra-time on Wednesday and will try and put out the strongest team available to win the game."
"I don't know yet what the team will be. I have to check tomorrow how people have recovered from the Napoli game," said Di Matteo.
Six-time FA Cup winners Chelsea struggled past second-tier Birmingham City in the previous round and Di Matteo is expecting Leicester to be equally tough.
"With Birmingham we had a replay and we have to be aware we have to perform again at a very high level to go through," he said.
"This club has a great history in the competition and I remember we played Leicester when I was playing. We needed a replay then and it was very difficult."
Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has defended the club's senior players, claiming their experience is needed for the club to be successful.
"You're not talking about old boys whose careers are flitting out. They're players that want to play, players that want to win. You can see that."
"When you've got that, if you can add to that with the youth and the quality we've got around the team as well, then that's a recipe and we have to carry on with that."
"You see it time and time again that when a manager changes the fortunes of the team change," Lampard, who was regularly dropped by Villas-Boas, told reporters.
"I don't know why or whether it's right or wrong but we have not been consistent in the league and that's why the owners changed the manager. The players have to give everything."
Billionaire owner Roman Abramovich is likely to go for a big name manager in the summer, but Di Matteo has done his chances of being involved no harm at all.
"It's for the club to decide on the new manager," Lampard said. "He's done very well and had three wins out of three, so fair play to him. I think Robbie is a Chelsea man and he's shown that with his heart on his sleeve."
"He told us to concentrate on the basics and play with pride. It's a great reflection on him that we've had three wins. He deserves it.
Di Matteo said he hoped Chelsea's Champions League heroics will now spark a late-season surge in the league where they are in fifth place, three points behind Arsenal and four behind Tottenham Hotspur who they face at home this month.
"You saw from the players how they performed. They showed the passion and that they care about the club and the fans. It will give us a big boost for the rest of the season."
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