Guus Hiddink has challenged his Chelsea stars to show more leadership on the pitch if they are to salvage their torrid season.
Chelsea go into Sunday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park languishing in 16th in the table after 19 matches, just three points above the relegation zone.
The Blues' slump has been reflected in the form of their stars. PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard has failed to score in 25 club appearances in all competitions, Cesc Fabregas has just three assists to his name and Diego Costa has scored six goals in 22 games, though the former Atletico Madrid striker showed signs of recovery with two clinical strikes against Watford last month.
Hiddink admits the situation is far worse than when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge in February 2009, inheriting a squad that lay fourth in the Premier League and boasted strong personalities such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
"It's difficult to say [the squad is] worse or better, but it is a bit different," he insisted. "At that time it was a little bit easier because we were not that down in the table, but there were also players -- as there are now -- with big international experience.
"There was a different type of player. If you go through the spine of the team we had Drogba, Ballack, Lampard, in the centre Jon Obi [Mikel] was there, Alex -- different personalities.
"As a matter of fact that's what I'm asking of the players now: that they can and they must demand of each other not just commitment, because they are all committed -- if you see the training and the intensity of the game you can see that. But in the technical way of playing I like to see some guys who take the lead, from the defence to the midfield and going forward.
"Tactically you can do a lot with two or three words to your companion in front of you. We think we have a lot of power on the bench but it's not true. You can't just prepare the team, you have your three substitution possibilities.
"I always like to have these guys in charge, and to be honest, to compare, there were a few more guys [in 2009] who took that tactical lead. Now I'm in training to say to those guys 'Come on, take the lead'.
"But saying that, you cannot blame these guys for lack of commitment to the game and to the intensity of the game."
Hiddink ended his first caretaker spell at Stamford Bridge hailed as a Chelsea hero after leading the club to FA Cup glory, but he insists he is not concerned about tainting his legacy if there is no such fairytale ending this time around.
"I'm not worried about that," he added. "The main reason [I came] was I got a call to help out in a rather critical situation, and then I'm not thinking of myself in my first spell. It was extremely good I think -- not because of me, but because the team and everyone reacted very well.
"My first thoughts were not 'What will the reaction from the public be?' I was called and when I started in 2009, within a short time I got this affection for the club and the professionalism of all the staff. They are very committed.
"I think this spell is more difficult than the previous one but I don't think 'we have Manchester United away and now we have Crystal Palace, I won't touch it'. I'm not the kind of person who does that.
"In my career I like to help out and I love to work with players on the pitch. I'm not thinking, with all respect, about what the outside world thinks, to hesitate or not to do this."
When asked if he would consider taking the Chelsea job on a permanent basis at the end of the season, Hiddink replied: "There is still a long time to go until the summer. I will do this job until the end of the season and then the sun is shining. I don't know."