Chelsea v Napoli: Roberto Di Matteo's men played with fear but without pressure in Champions League clash The truth may lie in between. It may also have been an unconscious response from those players, mentally liberated, as there has, of late, been a strange, stagnant atmosphere. But there were some odd occurrences among the amazing scenes of victory - not least the way in which Branislav Ivanovic, possibly Chelsea's outstanding performer, brushed aside Di Matteo's requests not to venture forward only to then go and smash home the decisive goal. Then there was the sight of John Terry, who had played courageously, limping off with a damaged knee only to take his place in the dug-out to relay instructions back on to the pitch, organising the defenders with David Luiz barely able to walk but continuing courageously, risking causing himself further injury. At half-time in extra-time Terry was giving what appeared to be a team-talk, perhaps his right as captain, but remarkable nevertheless. At the end the last two players off the pitch were Didier Drogba, waving a flag, and Frank Lampard, roaring into the crowd, two whose futures at the club will continue to be in sharp focus until the end of the season. Drogba, Terry, Lampard. They all scored. For Drogba there was a header of trademark power and athleticism in what was an astonishingly physical performance. Terry also scored a header, while the midfielder drove in a penalty. Maybe this was simply a temporary reclamation, a dying of the light, a raging against time. But, maybe, as has happened before at Chelsea it will lead to another re-assessment from Roman Abramovich. Maybe these players have, incredibly, changed everything in just two hours of football. Abramovich strode across the pitch after the final whistle, had cleared with the broadest of grins on his face and headed for the home dressing room. He hasn't smiled much recently but having sent out the message that, this time, although he was again sacking another manager he wasn't letting the players escape responsibility, and that changes would be made. The message was that Roman wanted a new, young, hungry team and had grown tired of what he perceived was seasons of under-achievement. That the three-year project of change was more his than Villas-Boas's, that a raft of players - headed by Drogba - and including two others who came on as substitutes, Jose Bosingwa and Florent Malouda, would go. Maybe he will think again that he can get one more season out of this old guard. Maybe not. It would be a remarkable comeback. But then Wednesday night was a remarkable comeback. Chelsea, having been in danger of being overwhelmed in the 20 minutes by a team full of the kind of young, attacking players Abramovich apparently wants, dug into reserves of courage and resilience to turn it around and to defy all kinds of logic. "We proved we're a team tonight," Terry declared afterwards. We showed what Chelsea are made of. He could well be right. The perceived wisdom, the message from the club, could be wrong. Maybe Villas-Boas tried to do too much too quickly. Maybe the players didn't support him. Maybe it was an idea that was bound to fail from the start.