Frank Lampard has claimed Guus Hiddink had restored Chelsea's self-belief and turned the players into winners again following the ill-fated reign of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The midfielder revealed that Hiddink had created a new fear-factor' among the first-team squad that had helped to transform results.

Chelsea have won all of the five matches since Hiddink took temporary charge last month.

Tonight they take on Juventus here in the last 16 of the Champions League, holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg a fortnight ago and such is the new spirit around the team, Juve boss Claudio Ranieri believes that Hiddink has given his former club the edge in the tie.

Lampard admitted the Premier League title was probably beyond Chelsea but insisted that the 62-year-old Dutchman had made the difference.

“Our performances have been disappointing too many times this season but the new coach has given us a boost,” said Lampard.

“He gives off something. Respect, of course, but also a certain aura. All the great coaches I have worked with have that fear factor about them and Hiddink is one of those.

“He is a great coach who has experience at great clubs and at international level, and someone who has always picked up good results.

“Recently, we have found our old spirit. We have seen in our last two or three matches that our determination and fighting qualities have returned.

“Guus always says the right thing. He knows what needs to be said and when. Hiddink, he is class.”
Ranieri believes that his team will have to break a new resolve at Chelsea if they are to progress to the last eight of the Champions League.

He said: “That fighting spirit has always been an important quality at Chelsea, just as important as the skills of the players. It is clear that now Chelsea are again a formidable fighting machine.”

Lampard will start in midfield tonight but fears that the Blues now only have the Champions League and FA Cup left to play for.

Chelsea trail Manchester United by seven points in the League and that could prove too big a gap.
“Our results since the arrival of Hiddink, especially the important victories against Villa and Wigan, have put us back on the rails but there is still work to do,” Lampard told Aujourd'hui Sport.

“The title is very probably settled even if we intend to fight all the way. There is no question of us giving the crown to Manchester United and we are going to believe until it is mathematically impossible.”