If Chelsea have experienced a bit of a wobble recently, Atlético Madrid have taken a fearsome tumble. A six-point return from their opening seven games in the Spanish league represents their worst start to a season since the 1994-95 campaign.

Living in the shadow of Real Madrid, their illustrious neighbours, is tough enough. Yet after one victory in La Liga and one point in their two matches in Champions League group D, questions have been asked already about the future of Abel Resino, the coach.

It might have been the last matter on Resino’s mind yesterday but he had to address it all the same. “I have a contract and I don’t need any assurances that I will continue as manager,” he said tersely. “We are in a bad situation at the moment and we need to turn it around.

“It is easy to talk badly about the situation but it is a great motivation to be playing Chelsea. We need to play in a relaxed manner. We are in a bad moment but we are working hard.”

Atlético will need to show the same stubbornness that Resino exhibited as a player. A former goalkeeper with the club, he set a league record during the 1990-91 season of 1,275 minutes without conceding a goal that still stands.

Florent Sinama-Pongolle, the Atlético and former Liverpool striker, is hoping a change of scenery will prove invigorating. “We are going through a difficult time but must keep our heads up,” he said. “We have to bring out the best in ourselves in these games.

“We are going to a country that loves football. We are playing on a big stage against a great side. Chelsea are very experienced in this competition and they are favourites but we will fight to try to get a win.”

Diego Forlán, the former Manchester United forward, was rested — because of “fatigue” — for the away match against Osasuna on Sunday, which Atlético lost 3-0. He faces further long-distance mileage for Uruguay in their two-legged World Cup play-off against Costa Rica next month but for now is looking forward to testing himself against Chelsea.

“It is a difficult game against Chelsea, against players who have been together for a long time,” Forlán said. “They are strong and have good power in the air. But I am motivated for this game, I love the pressure of these matches.”

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