Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will have had better weeks as he prepares to arrest his side's slump in form at home.
But the arrival of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Saturday will give him solace, as they have failed to win on their travels since the opening day of the Premier League season.
Villas-Boas is under pressure just three months into his first season at Chelsea, after losing back-to-back home matches against Liverpool and Arsenal.
Wednesday's Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen will not have calmed his nerves, as it leaves Chelsea needing a victory from their final group game against Valencia in order to guarantee qualification for the last 16.
Chelsea's recent run has led to speculation that the Portuguese coach, still only 34, could be on his way out of the London club almost as quickly as he arrived, such is the reputation Blues owner Roman Abramovich has for sacking under-performing managers
However, goalkeeper Petr Cech says the players have to take the blame for Chelsea's current form.
"The manager is not on the pitch, we are on the pitch and we are making mistakes," Cech said.
"The players are to blame and we know it. I think we need to be much more aggressive in terms of defending.
"He (Villas-Boas) cannot do anything about individual mistakes while he is standing by the bench.
"So the players are to blame and we know it and we try to make things happen and change. It is not easy but we keep going."
Villas-Boas knows he will have to prove his worth in the coming days after revealing his players' confidence was at a low ebb.
"They expect the manager to inspire them," said Villas-Boas, whose side are 12 points behind leaders Manchester City.
"That's my job: to motivate and inspire these people to change our faith.
"The talent is immense; the work is good. The responsibility is mine. I have to motivate them to get a win against Wolves, and then against Liverpool in the Carling (League) Cup next Tuesday.
"We have two games at home and need to get the focus and concentration right. I have to inspire and motivate my players, and we need our fans behind us. I'll get my inspiration from myself."
Villas-Boas has an ally in Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, who pointed to the Chelsea boss's record in his native country as evidence he has the skills -- if not the experience -- to manage in the Premier League.
"Look what Villas-Boas achieved in Portugal (winning three trophies with Porto last season). You don't achieve that unless you are good," McCarthy said.
"He is good but he has come into a different team that is changing. If he is as good as everyone thinks he is, let him get on with it, but it takes time.
"People think you can just turn up because good players are there and it's an easy task, but it's not. It takes time to mould a squad and get them to play your way and maybe get your own players in.
"Some people wrote off Arsenal and Arsene Wenger eight games ago and how ridiculous does that look now? They are now the only English team guaranteed to progress in the Champions League."
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is doubtful with an ankle knock, while Wolves are set to be unchanged from the side beaten by Everton last week.
Source: AFP
