Roberto Di Matteo insists Chelsea are reaping the rewards of his bold decision to embrace the player power that forced Andre Villas-Boas out of Stamford Bridge.
Di Matteo took over as Chelsea's interim manager after Villas-Boas was sacked following a brief, miserable reign scarred by constant rumours that he was engaged in a power struggle with John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba.
Villas-Boas often dropped Lampard and caused a major stir when he also axed Michael Essien and Cole for the Champions League last 16 first leg defeat to Napoli.
But in the end the young Portuguese coach couldn't win his battle with the cabal of aging stars who have developed significant influence with owner Roman Abramovich.
With Di Matteo only in charge until the end of the season, there was already speculation that Terry and company had stepped into the power vacuum and were effectively running the team.
That impression was strengthened when television pictures showed Terry standing just behind Di Matteo on the touchline and appearing to urge Essien to drop back into defence during Wednesday's 4-1 Champions League triumph over Napoli.
But Di Matteo, who will look to extend his 100 percent record as Blues manager when Chelsea host Championship club Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, is adamant the likes of Terry rightly have an input into how the team is run.
"I've had a long playing career myself at the highest level," the former Chelsea midfielder said.
"I've been coaching for some years now as well and I expect everybody to be involved and everybody to help each other on the pitch and the ones that are on the bench, and that's what I believe in.
"I think John is still too young to be a manager though. I can help him with his coaching badges maybe first!
"He's got so many years ahead of him playing and I would always recommend to any players to play as long as they can, because that's the best part of a footballing career."
With an important midweek Premier League clash against Manchester City looming, Di Matteo could be tempted to rest key players against a second-tier team like Leicester, even with a semi-final at Wembley up for grabs.
But he knows a replay would not only be embarrassing but would also present serious problems with the team's already packed fixture list.
It could mean a run of five games in 12 days and nine in 23 and Di Matteo said: "It's going to be difficult. As it is, it's very congested already.
"Luckily, we have everybody fit, the whole squad, and we will need everybody.
"It's difficult for some games to leave certain players out but we have such an intense schedule that it's great to be in a position like this.
"We obviously have to take into consideration that we played extra-time on Wednesday.
"We'll try to put out the strongest team that we have available on Sunday to win the game."
Meanwhile, Leicester boss Nigel Pearson has warned Chelsea that his side are confident of claiming a famous scalp.
Leicester have underachieved in the Championship despite heavy investment from the club's Thai owners and the FA Cup represents their last chance to make this a memorable campaign.
And Pearson, who played in the Middlesbrough team beaten 2-0 by Chelsea in the 1997 FA Cup final -- a game which featured a goal from then Blues midfielder Di Matteo, said: "Anything can happen on the day. Of course I believe we can move forward.
"We have got to be at our best, there is no doubt about that. You have to respect whoever you are playing.
"We want to go and give a good account of ourselves and cause some problems. Clearly we have to catch them on a not so good day and we've to be at our best.
"I still think it is a fabulous opportunity for the players to show what they can do and we've earned our place in the quarter-finals."
Source: AFP
