Andre Villas-Boas is looking for Chelsea to break out of an alarming dip when they return to UEFA Champions League action on Tuesday.
Blues boss hoping to see his side snap out of slump in Italy
Andre Villas-Boas is looking for Chelsea to break out of an alarming dip when they return to UEFA Champions League action on Tuesday.
The Blues had been hoping to head into the first leg of a last-16 showdown with Napoli buoyed by positive results in the league and cup.
They will, however, arrive on Italian soil in midweek on the back of a four-match winless run in all competitions.
Setbacks in the Premier League have seen them slip out of the top four, while a 1-1 draw with Birmingham on Saturday means they will require a replay in an FA Cup fifth round date with Championship opposition.
Villas-Boas admits his side find themselves stuck in a rut and he is looking for them to dig themselves out of a hole when they take in their next crucial fixture.
"You need an extra mental push to feel that confidence in a different way, it comes with results and at the moment results are not happening so until you get out of that cycle with a win it perpetuates a bit," he said following the stalemate with Birmingham.
"We don't have a lot of time between training and departure for Napoli. Bearing in mind the quality of the Napoli side we think of that game now, focus our heads on the Champions League tie which is extremely important and hopefully do much, much better."
Strong
Asked how he expected to see off a leading Serie A outfit when his team could not dispose of a second tier side in the FA Cup, Villas-Boas added: "Because it's football and sometimes it happens just like that, how you least expect. Napoli is a strong team but we are a strong team."
Villas-Boas revealed earlier on Saturday that club captain John Terry is only rated as 50-50 to make the Napoli game and he is also sweating on the fitness of Ashley Cole ahead of what could be a pivotal fixture in Chelsea's season.
"Both are in with a chance of making it but hopefully we will have Ashley training tomorrow (Sunday) and there is a chance he can make the trip," said the Portuguese tactician.
"JT is very doubtful but we will take him and see if he can make it. He wants to play, he wanted to play today but he is struggling with the knee injury."
