The weekend saw Lampard use the club's in-house television channel to deliver a withering assessment of the Blues' season, which finds them in real danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Caretaker manager Di Matteo admitted Chelsea - who are five points adrift of the Barclays Premier League top four - had endured a "difficult" campaign.

Yet, speaking ahead of tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Benfica - and with Chelsea England's sole remaining European representative - the Italian added: "Everybody seems to have an opinion, and they have that right, but I disagree.

"I believe in my team, my squad, my players.

"I don't think we're a weak team, not at all.

"We have, still, many games to play in the Premier League to reach fourth, and two games in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"It looked a little gloomier two weeks ago, so we're pleased to be here.

"If we had a few more points in the Premier League, we wouldn't be talking like this.

"It's a very fine line between success and failure. This team has all the ability to play a very good game tomorrow night and show the qualities these players have."

Chelsea have not finished outside the top four since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

Di Matteo said: "Chelsea used to be in the top two or top three, at least. So it's been hard for us, domestically.

"But we're in the semi-finals of a domestic cup, and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League."

Di Matteo refused to shy away from the fact Chelsea were in danger of their worst league finish for a decade.

"The numbers say that, so there is no point in denying it's been a difficult season," he said.

"But we have quality in this team and many good players. I still think this Chelsea team is a very good team."

Lampard also suggested Chelsea had allowed their intensity level to drop since their historic Champions League last-16 comeback to beat Napoli.

Di Matteo said: "They've shown they can play at high intensity at a high level, so I'm looking forward to my team doing that again tomorrow.

"I am positive about the team, but my players are positive too.

"We have great belief in our abilities. That's what we're going to try and express tomorrow."

Di Matteo took exception to claims from Benfica playmaker Nicolas Gaitan that Chelsea's "anxiety" this season was down to a lack of goals from Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres.

"My response is that we scored 13 goals in the last six games," he said.

"As long as somebody in my team scores, I don't care.

"We are scoring goals and creating chances. We're averaging more than two a game in the matches I've had in charge."

Di Matteo was also confident Chelsea would improve a Champions League away record that has seen them take the lead in all of their matches but fail to hold on for victory.

He said: "It's been good we've scored away from home. We've done that in all the games.

"On the other side, we have lost that lead on each occasion.

"We'll just try hard to get into the lead and hold it to take an advantage back to Stamford Bridge."

Managerless Chelsea arrived in Lisbon today amid further speculation about the club's summer plans, with reports suggesting they were even considering making an audacious bid for Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.

Di Matteo said of the club's future objectives: "It's not the time to be talking about the evolution or revolution of Chelsea.

"Now it's the time for us to channel our energy into the games we have to play.

"When the time is right, in the summer when the season is over and done, the people at the club will make the decisions which are the best for the club."