Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has defended his team selection, which included dropping Fernando Torres from the starting XI, as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat to Juventus on Tuesday.
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The result left the Blues on the brink of elimination from the Champions League group stages, with the holders now third in Group E, two points behind Juve and a further one adrift of leaders Shakhtar Donetsk.
That means qualification is no longer in the west London club's own hands, with the Premier League giants needing to win on the final group match-day while also hoping Shakhtar can beat the Serie A champions.
Di Matteo has come under heavy criticism for changing his squad for the crucial tie, but the Italian has backed his own decisions, despite the midweek result.
"I thought this was the team to beat Juventus but if the result is negative you always face repercussions," he said.
"Torres, like all players who don't start, was disappointed but he certainly has a future and we all have to pick ourselves up again.
"I wanted a different approach tonight and to move the three centre-backs around.
"Their first goal was lucky because of the deflection but we are conceding goals and we are working on it and you need to be solid defensively if you want to win games."
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