Chelsea captain John Terry and the suspended Didier Drogba have both strongly criticised the team’s performance against the Latics and Malouda revealed the anger was already evident at half-time.

“He (John) started first with the players,” revealed Malouda. “Everybody spoke at half-time in the dressing room but that stays with the players.

“The players know it wasn’t a good performance and not the level we expect of Chelsea.

“When you lose the way we did, nobody can be happy with that. We spoke and now we have the opportunity to react and, I would say, to act.

“Against Wigan we were always reacting and were late with everything. Now we have an opportunity in another competition.

“We’re first in this group and have come here to win. We’re not thinking about Wigan. It was a bad result. We come here looking for a good result.

“We didn’t put all the ingredients in to win as we did in the first six games. We know that, even if we are a good team, if we don’t put all the ingredients in, we won’t win.

“Every team we play is very organised and wants to beat us. If we are not prepared for that, we can have trouble against any team. We know that and we don’t want that to happen at any time.

“We spoke because it was not a good performance. But we also speak together when we’re winning. We try to analyse things and look at the mistakes.

“We do that even when we’ve won. We want to correct what’s wrong, and tomorrow is a good opportunity.”

Malouda was not surprised the side incurred the wrath of Ancelotti. The normally placid coach was seething with anger but the winger added: “When you lose like we did, it would be a surprise if he was sitting there laughing on the bench, so it was a normal reaction.

“But we have come here hoping to take another step towards qualifying by winning the game.

“But there are no easy games now in Europe or the Premier League. They drew against Atletico Madrid away, so that means they can perform.

“I saw the video of Apoel today and they can play football. I think they will play to win. It won’t be an easy game, but since I’ve been at Chelsea we’ve not had any easy games.”

Malouda was also criticised during the Wigan game for a bad challenge on former Blue Mario Melchiot.

The winger did not receive a yellow card and insisted he had not tried to break Melchiot’s leg.

“I missed the ball, I was late,” he insisted. “I told him that I was sorry and I told the referee that.

“I didn’t have any intention to break his leg. I was late. I apologised for that.

“Mario knows I didn’t want to break his leg. There is no problem between Mario and me.”