Chelsea can still win the title, says Desailly

The Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly has told his team-mates that they need to satisfy their supporters' thirst for success by delivering a trophy this season.

Desailly insists that Chelsea can still haul themselves back into the title race, even though their weekend draw at Bolton has left them eight points behind the leaders Manchester United and five points behind fifth-placed Liverpool.

However, while a Champions' League finish is still possible, it is likely to be the cup competitions which offer the London club their most realistic chance of success.

Chelsea already hold a 2-1 lead over Tottenham from their Worthington Cup semi-final first leg and take on Norwich City tonight in their FA Cup third-round replay.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is an outsider to return following a hip problem, with Chelsea discounting suggestions that he could be ruled out for up to six weeks. However, it looks more likely that the in-form Eidur Gudjohnsen will partner either Gianfranco Zola, who started at Bolton, or Mikael Forssell, who scored after coming on for the Italian.

Desailly, who will be without his suspended central defensive partner John Terry, realises that Chelsea – who failed to win a trophy last season – are under pressure to deliver following so much pre-season spending.

"At Bolton, victory escaped us because of some small faults in concentration and we paid for them," said the Frenchman. "Now we must do everything we can to satisfy our supporters by winning something this season. As far as the title is concerned, it will be complicated as the Manchester United machine is back on track, while we're still lacking some consistency with several injuries and absentees. But I still believe we can win it."

After his longest injury absence for nine years, his Achilles problem having kept him out for two months, Desailly is simply relieved to be playing regularly again.

"I've just played two complete matches and overall I'm happy. It's very pleasing to touch the ball again in a match," he said. "I have worked hard with the medical staff to return and this is the fruit of those labours.

"The first game against Tottenham was especially good. The stadium was packed, the pressure was on because it was the semi-final of the Worthington and a local derby, and the crowd gave me a great welcome back. I must say it had been a long time since they had seen me last. I'm just happy to be back and now I want to play and win."

With Terry suspended for tonight's game, Desailly is set to be partnered by William Gallas, who is expected to have recovered from a leg injury sustained in the goalless draw at Carrow Road 10 days ago.

Boudewijn Zenden is also in contention for a recall following his own injury problems, while Chelsea have made it clear that Hasselbaink is not for sale amid supposed interest from his former club Atletico Madrid.

The Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson said: "We've had no approach from Atletico and, if they make one, we will tell them very swiftly where to go."