The experience of Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has helped the team fight back from a precarious position says assistant Michael Emenalo.
The reigning champions were almost down and out about six weeks ago but have won five of their past six in both the Premier League and the Champions League to be sitting third domestically and competing in final eight of the European competition.
Emenalo puts it down to the knowledge of the Italian along with some formation tinkering which has seen the London club push back into the top echelon.
"The experience of the manager has helped tremendously, because we have been able to come through and look strong again," he told the club's official website.
"Carlo looked over the situation with the players we have and at what was lacking, and in his past when he has been in these situations, he decided the best way to attack this situation was to get a very good defensive base from which to work.
"As a result we've gone to 4-4-2 which gives a balanced defensive core, but we have quality players who can do different things and we are able to manipulate it a little bit, with Ramires on the right and Florent Malouda or Yury Zhirkov on the left.
"So we can create width on one side and a certain level of compactness from the right, meaning we don't get overrun even if we send people forward, and it can become a central three in midfield when we are defending.
"It means we can stay strong in transition because a lot of times when people play 4-4-2 they use two wide players who go forward and they have problems in transition, or play 4-4-1-1, limiting the players they have going forward and often becoming a 4-5-1.
"On our left side we also have a very attacking full-back in Ashley Cole, and it helps that when David Luiz plays he gets involved and becomes a playmaker."
Chelsea next take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on April 2 following the international break.
