Salomon Kalou: Chelsea players believe Carlo Ancelotti can deliver more silverware

However, there was also the acknowledgement that a run of three defeats in four Premier League games has shredded the aura of invincibility that had previously been developing around the defending league and FA Cup winners.

“Have we lost the fear factor? Yes,” said Florent Malouda. “Maybe teams have more confidence when they come here.” Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Zilina did at least guarantee Chelsea’s progress into the last 16 of the Champions League as Group F winners and so provide some cheer to Ancelotti.

The Italian has made it clear that he did not initiate recent changes to his coaching staff, while Saturday’s admission that he does not have “total control of the team” prompted considerable concern about his future.

Ancelotti has chosen not to speak directly with his players about his own position but, according to Salomon Kalou, the squad were always confident that he would remain at Chelsea and lead them to more success.

“We have never doubted that the manager would be here,” said Kalou. “I don’t think when you lose two games the manager is under pressure. Carlo is very important to us. He doesn’t put the players under pressure and he has brought his own calm to the team which helps us play to our full potential.

“The manager protects the players and that is important. When you play for Chelsea and you don’t win for two games, and the team is under pressure, you don’t want the players to be scared. Last year we had difficult times too, but Carlo stayed calm and didn’t change anything, and we won two trophies.

He brings that self-belief.” Kalou is also certain that such confidence will be translated into more silverware. “Of course the club will win more trophies with Carlo in charge,” he said. “He is a manager who will definitely win prizes. We are still first in the Champions League and the Premier League, and the manager has shown he can win the Premier League because we did it last year.

“We haven’t talked to the manager about the speculation and he didn’t say anything to us. We are enjoying working with him. He is a good coach, a great guy and it is a real joy working with him. We believe that we are going to have a great season with him.” Malouda believes that Chelsea will recover from the current blip once key senior players, such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Alex, return from injury.

“Right now we have so many injuries and it’s more difficult for us physically and mentally,” he said. “When the injured players get back they’ll bring their experience. They will bring back that anger a player has when he hasn’t played for a while.”