Guus Hiddink has warned Chelsea's players their future could be in his hands - even though his future is not at Stamford Bridge.

The Dutchman is set to leave when his short-term deal expires at the end of the season, and a number of the Blues' stars may be following him out of the door.

Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Florent Malouda, Branislav Ivanovic and Ricardo Carvalho are all set for talks this summer, and Hiddink will make his views known.

He said: "There are many clubs where players start playing well in April and May because they know that maybe they want to stay.

"You can see that in the whole history of the game, when players start playing well at this time of the season.

"Generally speaking, even if a player's contract is expiring, he has a responsibility to deliver.

"I can have an influence on what happens to these players and I can always make suggestions to the people at the club who ultimately decide."

Drogba, Ballack and Carvalho are all the wrong side of 30 but Hiddink does not feel age should be a factor.

"When players are committed, you don't worry whether they are 31 or 32," he added.

Chelsea face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge tomorrow having drawn 0-0 in the Nou Camp.

Roman Abramovich's millions have so far failed to help the club conquer Europe and, after last season's penalty shootout defeat by Manchester United in the final, midfielder Frank Lampard admits the pressure is growing.

The 30-year-old said: "I know what people mean when they say we're cursed in Europe because the more years it comes and you get very close but it doesn't quite happen, the more you start to think, 'Will I ever get there?'

"There's definitely a source of determination because we're all professionals and all playing at a club that craves success and wants success, and you need that as players.

"We've basically achieved everything else domestically, so Europe is the one hanging over us."