Avram Grant has two things to achieve this evening: a win for Chelsea against Everton, and to do so without giving his critics any more ammunition after his team selection against Wigan Athletic backfired.

What is the point of rotating and resting players in the early months of the season if not to keep them fresh for the climax? Before Monday, Chelsea had a maximum of eight matches left, if they reach the Champions League final. With so few games remaining and being so close to two big prizes, it is the time to play your first-choice team, go full-on and hope that they have the legs for the home straight. So what if they are exhausted in May. Most are not going to Euro 2008.

But by selecting fringe players against Wigan with a view to this evening's match, the first-team coach showed that he was worried about the Everton game - which may turn out to be irrelevant. It is how the club have been managed by Grant - overcautiously. Too many doubts. It is hard to preserve a relentless winning mentality when you are chopping and changing and picking mediocre players such as Florent Malouda for must-win matches.

Yet Chelsea are second in the table, which shows the quality of the squad. If you tried to name the top 80 players in Europe, Chelsea would have about 15. It is not about talent but attitude. The squad is trying, but there is not that scent of success you could smell at Stamford Bridge during José Mourinho's reign. There is an edge lacking, which is the difference between finishing first and second. And second, for Chelsea, is failure. The dominant emotion is not belief or confidence, but frustration. It comes from a sense of confusion felt from players to fans.

There is the eternal public silence from Roman Abramovich, the club's owner. The doubts about Grant's ability and credentials. The white lie everyone was told when Mourinho left about entertainment being crucial - yet the style is no different. Andriy Shevchenko, from superstar to the Lord Lucan of football. Frank Lampard's contract: an England player at his peak yet he has not signed a long-term deal.

Then there is Didier Drogba, who is out with a knee injury but was in the stands listening to his iPod on Monday. He has gone from the key man last season to a player who looks as if he has one eye on the exit, making his own entertainment rather than giving his entire focus to a crucial match. It was a ridiculous sight. Where is the sense of unity if he is in his own little world?

I am wondering if Drogba has gone down the same path as Thierry Henry. Star striker who gives the impression that he is bigger than the club and is doing them a favour by hanging around before a summer move to a European giant. As was the case with Henry in his last season at Arsenal, injury and indifferent performances have hurt his club's chances.

Grant needs to coax top-drawer displays from Drogba if Chelsea are to rescue their season. No trophies? Then prepare for mayhem in May as Abramovich takes action to rediscover the winning touch.