Florent Malouda has said that Chelsea's Champions League clash with Bayern Leverkusen tonight is the perfect opportunity for the Blues to get back on track.

Andre Villas-Boas has come under heavy criticism recently following a poor Premier League showing, but Malouda refuses to blame his boss.

"When you are a top team and you don't perform, you have to accept the criticism. That is only normal," Malouda said. "But first of all we have to be self-critical and I don't think the solution is about looking at the manager.

"Everyone wants to give us advice or point at the manager. But it is the players who have to take responsibility. We are the ones going out on the pitch and performing. Speaking for myself, I know that I need to step up my game.

"No-one is comfortable with our position in the Premier League and there is no one reason for our recent performances."

Malouda hopes that tonight's match will be the turning point for Chelsea.

"I think we need to get stronger in adversity to come back to our true position and we have a good chance to do that against Leverkusen," he said.

"We just want to win again and then all the comments will be positive and we'll become the best team in the world."

Chelsea go into the match as Group E leaders.