Benfica v Chelsea: Robert Di Matteo insists old guard will hold strong Di Matteo was quizzed on the vice-captain's comments and there was a ready admission that this has been a "difficult" season. "The numbers say that, so there's no point in denying it," he added. But we have the quality in this team and many good players. I still think this Chelsea team is a very good team. That is what is so fascinating about Chelsea right now. Is there a ­misreading of the situation, a wrong perception that this group of players have gone as far as they can? Or will Tuesday evening's encounter be the last one on foreign soil in the Champions League for this campaign and the next? The likelihood now is that their best chance of remaining in the competition is to win it. Either way, there is the scent of change. "It's not the time to be talking about the evolution or revolution of Chelsea," Di Matteo said, understandably, inside the Stadium of Light. Now it's the time for us to channel our energy into the games we have to play. When the time is right, in the summer when the season is over and done, the people at the club will make the decisions which are the best for the club. The likelihood is that he will be among those who depart at the end of this season but he will want to do so with his reputation enhanced. Coming through the Napoli tie, alone, will achieve that but despite the brouhaha over whether Chelsea are in danger of showing Benfica a lack of respect, both clubs know they could have drawn more formidable opponents. Both sense an opportunity. Di Matteo has big calls to make all over the pitch - who will partner John Terry in the centre of defence? Can he rely on the "old guard," after a heavy schedule of matches, to run the midfield? Should he select Fernando Torres ahead of Didier Drogba? What formation should he choose? Chelsea will come in search of what they have achieved in each of their away ties this season - a goal - even if they have failed to hold on for victory. "The season has been very difficult for us," Di Matteo said. Chelsea used to be in the top two or top three, at least. So it's been hard for us, domestically. But we're in the semi-finals of a domestic cup [FA Cup], and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. But I have faith in this team. They've shown they can play at high intensity at a high level, so I'm looking forward to my team doing that again tomorrow. I am positive about the team, but my players are positive too. We have great belief in our abilities. Everybody seems to have an opinion, and they have that right, but I disagree. I believe in my team, my squad, my players. I don't think we're a weak team, not at all. We have, still, many games to play in the Premier League to reach fourth, and two games in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It looked a little gloomier two weeks ago, so we're pleased to be here.