Ray Wilkins has confirmed club owner Roman Abramovich held talks with the Chelsea squad in the wake of their UEFA Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.
The wealthy Russian businessman has made no secret of his desire to see the Blues crowned champions of Europe, with coach Carlo Ancelotti admitting that was his target when appointed in the summer.
A succession of managers have all been unable to deliver the greatest prize in European club football, with Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink all failing before Ancelotti's appointment.
Reports claimed that Abramovich issued an ultimatum to the squad after they crashed out of the competition at the last-16 stage to former boss Mourinho and threatened wholesale changes in the summer.
But assistant boss Wilkins has played down those suggestions and insists the playing staff are always happy to hear what the owner has to say.
Wilkins said: "It was a very positive meeting that the players have had with Roman so from that aspect he just added his support to the situation.
"We were delighted to see him, he's always extremely involved in the club.
"He owns the club and wants to have a big input into what happens. So whenever he is down it is a positive as far as we're concerned.
"He's very close to the players, he knows the way they work so therefore he wanted to have a little input with them during the week. It was nothing dramatic, it was all pretty low-key stuff so we just get on with the business now."
Wilkins accepted changes in playing personnel were likely this summer, but said that was a normal occurrence at any big club.
"Seasons pass on, people are brought in and people leave the club and that's the way football is," he said.
"We're no different to any other football club. We want to improve, we want to go forward and if it means a few players go along the way and a few come in that is just the way football is run.
"Whenever a top-quality player becomes available, a top club like ours will always be involved in the process."
The wealthy Russian businessman has made no secret of his desire to see the Blues crowned champions of Europe, with coach Carlo Ancelotti admitting that was his target when appointed in the summer.
A succession of managers have all been unable to deliver the greatest prize in European club football, with Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink all failing before Ancelotti's appointment.
Reports claimed that Abramovich issued an ultimatum to the squad after they crashed out of the competition at the last-16 stage to former boss Mourinho and threatened wholesale changes in the summer.
But assistant boss Wilkins has played down those suggestions and insists the playing staff are always happy to hear what the owner has to say.
Wilkins said: "It was a very positive meeting that the players have had with Roman so from that aspect he just added his support to the situation.
"We were delighted to see him, he's always extremely involved in the club.
"He owns the club and wants to have a big input into what happens. So whenever he is down it is a positive as far as we're concerned.
"He's very close to the players, he knows the way they work so therefore he wanted to have a little input with them during the week. It was nothing dramatic, it was all pretty low-key stuff so we just get on with the business now."
Wilkins accepted changes in playing personnel were likely this summer, but said that was a normal occurrence at any big club.
"Seasons pass on, people are brought in and people leave the club and that's the way football is," he said.
"We're no different to any other football club. We want to improve, we want to go forward and if it means a few players go along the way and a few come in that is just the way football is run.
"Whenever a top-quality player becomes available, a top club like ours will always be involved in the process."
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