Joe Cole and Gary Cahill both believe there is still room for Chelsea to pull off a remarkable Champions League comeback against Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, despite the odds being firmly stacked against them.
After losing 2-0 to a Los Blancos side that rarely got out of second gear in the first leg, Frank Lampard must not only hope that his side score at least two goals under his watch for the first time, he needs a first win as caretaker boss as well. Even that may not be enough after Madrid gave themselves a healthy buffer heading to London.
With three defeats from three and a disjointed, disconnected and massively underperforming squad, the scale of the task at hand couldn't be bigger. Cole doesn't think that all is lost just yet though.
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"It's not over. It was a hard night and the moments went to Real but they're the champions and an outstanding team," Cole told BT Sport after the first leg.
"Chelsea came here and there were some first half moments with good chances, and the positive is they're still in it and they showed character, heart and fight to stay in there and dig in. This is the hardest place to come to in European football."
Firmly still a believer then, but Glenn Hoddle's prediction and only remaining hope after the game has already vanished. "They've got to win at the weekend against Brighton," the former Blues manager said. After the 2-1 loss to the Seagulls, it leaves confidence as low as possible.
Meanwhile, one of the club's 2012 heroes, Gary Cahill, is also cautiously optimistic that Chelsea can cause trouble to Carlo Ancelotti's men. He told football.london: "There's enough in the squad to go on and do well, better than they're doing well in the league for sure but they can turn the tie around.
"We're talking about Real Madrid here. They're unbelievable in the competition and unbelievable in managing the game and playing with experience, they've got bundles of it.
"It's going to be an uphill task but the European nights at Stamford Bridge are special and they've got the added bit of spice and extra volume. They need the first goal. That's key; then I think you'll really see the atmosphere kick in at Stamford Bridge."
Cahill also said: "The Madrid team is obviously very settled. But I think there are numerous players of Chelsea, when they're in form, that could get in there.
"Having said that, they're a fantastic team and the players Benzema and Vinicius Junior at the two to keep an eye on, two unbelievable players. The fact that the likes of Kroos and Modric are still pulling strings in the midfield, it's incredible and they've had such good careers.
"The first leg, with the sending off and to come away with 2-0, we've been at Stamford Bridge before on nights like this and the atmosphere, if Chelsea can get a first goal it will be electric inside that stadium. And it's been done before, in terms of turning ties around like in 2012 when we went with that, so it's up to them again."
BonusCodeBets has also turned to a supercomputer to predict the chances of Chelsea getting through here but it's bad news for Blues fans with just a 12.5% chance of progression given.
"Chelsea won’t produce a comeback of dreams at Stamford Bridge with European kings, Real Madrid, showing their class once again on the big stage," a spokesperson said.
It's a mountain to climb for the Blues but where there's hope, there's always a chance.
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