Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou have been a major part of Chelsea's success under interim coach Guus Hiddink.

Malouda, who scored one of the goals in their 3-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday, has flourished under the Dutchman's managerial tenure and Kalou, who popped up with the winner against West Ham the previous week, has finally begun to realise his full potential.

The pair hope to be tormenting the Barcelona defence on Wednesday night in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

But after a majestic attacking display from Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba against Fulham, one of them may well lose out.

Anelka and Drogba both got on the score sheet while Kalou had to be content with a place on the bench and that is where the Ivorian may remain when the team is announced for return clash with the Spanish giants.

Chelsea have a slight advantage going into the second leg after their goalless draw in Spain, but Malouda and Kalou are in unison when it comes to revealing the impetus behind the team's desire to win the Champions League.

Their defeat on penalties to Manchester United in the final Moscow last May has left a scar on the team that won't heal until they have finally won the trophy.

"Last year, to be in the final, was a very good experience but also bad," said former Lyon winger Malouda.

"I had been in a team at Lyon that so many times people had expected to succeed, to make the final, and we never made it.

"At Chelsea, we did and it was a shame to lose. We are all determined now to get to Rome and win the trophy because we have come close before.

"This now means that our desire is even stronger than it has ever been. The Champions League is a very important competition for any player.

"For me, my emotion started at Lyon because we tried to win it but never passed the quarter-finals and now at Chelsea, we have a very good chance because our team is strong.

"We all know going to Rome is going to be difficult but we have ambition and the ability to win the competition. We know we can do it. We need to stay focused on our target and achieve our goal."

The France international's views are echoed by his wing partner Kalou, who accepts the fact that sometimes he has to miss out on a place in the starting line-up.

"It doesn't matter who plays because whoever is on the pitch gives their best and Chelsea have 26 or 28 players in the squad for this reason," said Kalou.

"We all have the quality to play at the highest level and when we get the chance, we have to show what we can do. It has nothing to do with what changes were made because all of our players want to get involved and that is our motivation.

"When you get close in a final and then don't win a tournament, you have lots of regrets but this year we have the opportunity to go to the final again.

"Now we want to take that opportunity against Barcelona in the semi-final and go to the final and win it. Everyone is motivated by last year but we are still going to do it game-by-game because that is the only way - to focus on each match."

Kalou was on the bench during Chelsea's goalless draw in Spain as the Blues and became the first team to stop Barcelona scoring at home this season. But the Ivorian admits he enjoyed watching the 'cat and mouse' battle in the Nou Camp.

"It was good football to watch - they attacked and we kept them out well so it was different styles against each other and you can enjoy this," he added.

"It was good to see a completely different game from the usual in this country and I think, by not conceding a goal, we got a good result."