Frank Lampard believes Chelsea still have it all to play for but admitted their old boss Jose Mourinho set them a tough task as Inter Milan claimed a 2-1 victory in their Champions League clash.
Salomon Kalou's equaliser could yet prove a vital away goal, but it only cancelled out Diego Milito's early strike before Esteban Cambiasso won it in the second half.
"There's still the game in London to go. On the balance of play, possession, shots on target, I thought we were the stronger team, but we knew how Inter were going to play, they do like to soak up pressure and that's what they did," Lampard told ITV.
"(Mourinho's) very clever in the way he plays. They came to wait for us, we gave away the goal, came back, then let another in but we've got the away goal and that gives us a chance."
Chelsea might have equalised earlier than they did had they been awarded what looked to be a sure penalty for a foul on Kalou. Walter Samuel would likely have seen red if it was given.
Lampard admitted he did not see the incident, but added: "Kalou thinks it's a penalty and if it is, it's a red card and the game's completely different.
"But you have to take it on the chin and in the home leg maybe something goes for us.
"We've got the away goal, but obviously we've got to beat them at home so it's in the balance."
Mourinho did not celebrate either Inter goal on the pitch, but insisted he was more than pleased with the result.
"Of course I'm happy inside," he said. "I was saying a few weeks ago or few months ago when we got the draw I'm a professional and I want to win as a professional I want to win more than anybody else."
He also denied he had done anything to outsmart his old players.
"I don't think the game was a question of tactics, I think the game was a real Champions League game, a really high-level game.
"There were no surprises for me, no surprises from Chelsea, just two teams playing with the quality they have.
"Chelsea can play better, Inter can play better, but this is the reality of the Champions League.
"Sometimes it's difficult to express your qualities. This is a knock-out so you know any mistake can cost you qualification.
"Inter were unlucky with the draw, Chelsea were unlucky with the draw, because I think if you look at the Champions League, this was the game with two teams with great ambitions, and one of them has to go home."
