The midfielder said: “We can’t do anything about Mourinho going now. The majority of the players did not like it, but it is the decision the club has made and we have to accept it. Now we have to help the new coach to take things forward. If he fails then the players fail too.
“Nobody thought we would not beat Rosenborg on our own pitch but we can make amends by beating Valencia – even though it will not be easy.
“This game is a lot more important for Chelsea than it appears to people. We are playing for our future in the Champions League because to get only one point from six would put a lot of pressure on us.
“Valencia want to pay us back for last year and that will make the game even harder, but Chelsea have lived through worse situations and we have come through.”