CHELSEA’S REVERSION to type feels almost complete. Not only is this club reliant once more upon the key members of its old guard, a core clique accustomed to carrying the team but whose authority had felt challenged by Andre Villas-Boas, but Roberto Di Matteo is now even leaning upon a substratum of those long-serving professionals.

Players such as Paulo Ferreira and Salomon Kalou were forgotten men, apparent outcasts counting down the days to prospective summer departures. Suddenly they feel relevant again.

Nothing better illustrates the pragmatist in Di Matteo than his team selection at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night. Chelsea had appeared drained against Tottenham at the weekend, hungover from the reality check delivered by midweek defeat at Manchester City. The Italian had recognised the need to “freshen up” and “energise” his team, even if few envisaged the introduction of the 33-year-old Ferreira, without an appearance all calendar year, or Kalou as obvious solutions.

Yet on the basis the team have retreated back to basics – seeking out the solidity and strength of old rather than anything more scintillating – there was probably very little risk, other than a lack of match sharpness, in calling upon personnel steeped in what the Chelsea of the last five years have tended to do best.

Ferreira rarely wavered from his task to quell Bruno Cesar. Kalou pilfered the game’s only goal. Di Matteo has suggested others under-utilised to date will be needed in the months ahead. There remains the possibility his team could face 14 games over the final seven weeks of the campaign.

Chelsea are having to think short term in order to contemplate a more promising future, with Champions League qualification for next term a priority. Di Matteo is out of contract in a little over three months’ time, so this is no time to shun anyone capable of contributing.

Even so, his diplomatic approach still implies tacit criticism of Villas-Boas, whose brief to reshape the playing staff had bluntly forced the popular Alex and Nicolas Anelka out of the club, and Kalou, Florent Malouda and Ferreira to the fringes. “His idea is to give the opportunity for everyone to show they want to play for the club and give 100 per cent,” said Kalou. “That is how you get everybody behind you and how you get the team to work together.”

The Ivorian began two Premier League matches under Villas-Boas – the first games of the Portuguese’s tenure – only to slip out of favour with his contract due to expire at the end of June.

“Maybe Andre was building a new team and he was thinking I wasn’t part of the future of the club,” said Kalou, who has started four games under Di Matteo. “I was told because I didn’t sign the contract I was not allowed to play. I respect every manager’s choice.

“You want to be involved more, to help the team win games and show you’re a better player than people think. Sometimes I feel the club never gave me the opportunity to show what I can do. But it’s not about going to [the manager] and asking why I’m not playing. It’s about showing it in training and when you have the opportunity to play. Robbie gave me that opportunity against Benfica.”

Villas-Boas was working towards a future without these players and, even in pre-season, had privately expressed some frustration that clearing such high-earners from the wage bill was far from a straightforward process. Yet, once transfer windows had shut, casting such experienced personnel completely to the periphery now looks wasteful. “I was a bit surprised [to be selected] because I’d not been playing for a while, and for a game of this importance, a quarter-final – I wasn’t expecting that,” said the full-back.

Chelsea may be cast adrift in the title race but they are the only Premier League team fighting on three fronts. April brings the return leg against the Portuguese, potentially two matches against either Milan or Barcelona, derbies against Fulham, Arsenal and QPR in the league, a visit from Wigan and an FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur. The logjam may be mouthwatering, but it will be emotionally and physically draining. Di Matteo will need all hands to the pump.