Stoke City manager Tony Pulis believes that Luiz Felipe Scolari will turn around Chelsea's fortunes after a run of just one win in five league games.
Chelsea bounced back from their 3-0 mauling at the hands of title rivals Manchester United on Sunday by beating League One side Southend 4-1 in their FA Cup third round replay after drawing 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Pulis takes his side to Chelsea on Saturday with his team hovering just above the relegation zone in 17th.
Despite their indifferent form the Stoke boss still believes Scolari's side will be challenging for honours at the end of the season.
"Whenever one of the top four clubs are not doing well over two or three games, people will jump on them," Pulis explained.
"Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool are there to be shot at. When they get in a little bit of a rut everything starts up.
"He (Scolari) is an experienced manager who has been around the block a few times and I am sure he will be able to cope."
Pulis also stated that he could not understand why the World Cup winning coach had come in for so much criticism.
"They are having a terrible season aren't they?" he joked.
"Chelsea are four points off the top of the table, in the next stage of the European Cup and through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
"I heard on the radio it was a tight game against Southend. It just amazes me, they won 4-1.
"Chelsea are a fantastic club with fantastic players. They will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season."
After Stoke's interest in the FA Cup was ended by League One's Hartlepool United, Pulis has decided to take advanatge of the gap in the club's fixtures next week by taking his squad to Dubai for a four-day training camp.
"We will be able to train morning and afternoon and that will enable me to get in some good work with the group," the 51-year-old insisted.
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