Guus Hiddink has stabilised Chelsea’s season and restored the feel good factor at the club by making the players feel ‘free’ to express themselves after returning to Stamford Bridge in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s dismissal last December.

John Obi Mikel, Chelsea’s goalscorer in Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League round of 16 first-leg defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, believes that the Dutchman’s more relaxed approach has been the crucial ingredient in reviving the team’s fortunes to the extent that they retain hopes of silverware in Europe and the FA Cup ahead of Sunday’s fifth round tie at home to Manchester City.

The reigning Premier League champions, currently 12th in the league table, remain on course to mount the worst defence of a title since Leeds United finished 17th in 1992-93.

But Nigeria midfielder Mikel claims that Chelsea’s performance against PSG at Parc des Princes offered proof that Hiddink’s approach is working.

“Guus has come in again and settled things,” Mikel said. “Players feels free to play and free to have responsibility and thrive on responsibility, but do it in a very relaxed way

“That is sometimes what players need. Guus has come in and done that. We’re picking up results in the league and we’re still very much in this Champions League tie.

“We’ve been through a difficult period, no doubt about it, but Guus has come in and settled the ship.”

Mikel, 28, has returned to prominence under Hiddink after becoming a fringe player during the final months of Mourinho’s reign in charge.

PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Show all 24 1 /24 PSG vs Chelsea player ratings PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Kevin Trapp - 7 out of 10 Was in fine form, much like Courtois down the other end, and the PSG goalkeeper made several crucial saves - first when he parried Costa's header onto the bar and then when he denied the Chelsea striker in the second half. Will feel he could have done more to keep out Mikel's goal, but an impressive showing nevertheless. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Marquinhos - 6 out of 10 Started at right back in place of Serge Aurier who was suspended by PSG on Monday, and the defender made some good clearances in the game. However, he failed to pressurise Mikel enough just before the midfielder equalised but this was still a good performance from the in-demand defender. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Thiago Silva - 6 out of 10 The PSG captain was stalwart throughout the match, although him and Luiz suffered a few nervy moments when Chelsea went on the attack. But he marshalled his back line well. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings David Luiz - 6 out of 10 Hardly had anything to do for most of the first half, with Chelsea being kept at bay, but he then left Mikel completely unmarked for his goal during a corner kick. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Maxwell - 6 out of 10 Kept Pedro quiet early at the back while going forward and helping in PSG's attacks, namely, when he latched onto Matuidi's pass and forced Courtois into a save. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Marco Verratti - 6 out of 10 Was bright and provided a lot of pace to PSG's attacks, but couldn't quite create a clear-cut chance for his side although he did nearly score with his effort that was saved by Courtois Getty PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Thiago Motta - 5 out of 10 Kept the likes of Fabregas relatively quiet while making some good clearances but failed to keep a lid on Willian, who ran riot on several occasions. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Blaise Matuidi - 6 out of 10 Had an impressive game, playing in Maxwell for an early chance while tracking back and defending when needed. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Angel Di Maria - 6 out of 10 The Argentine continues to impress following his move from Manchester United to PSG last summer, and his pace caused Chelsea lots of trouble time and time again. He could have put himself on the scoresheet but fired wide. An impressive performance from the winger. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 7 out of 10 Making his 115th Champions League appearance, the striker used his strength to hold the ball up well early on but, after receiving a yellow card for a late tackle on Mikel, he then disappointingly sent his free kick wide. He should have scored. He then awkwardly headed Marquinhos' cross onto the pitch and over the bar with space, but he made amends for his miss when he scored with a free kick just before the break. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Lucas Moura - 7 out of 10 Was on the pitch for 70 minutes and enjoyed a fine game as he caused Baba Rahman so many problems with his forays forward. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Edinson Cavani - 8 out of 10 Came on for Lucas Moura late on in the second half and made an instant impact after he scored the winner with a fine strike. The goal means the Uruguay star has now scored three goals against Chelsea. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Thibaut Courtois - 6 out of 10 Was absolutely superb for most of the the game, saving numerous efforts from the hosts although he couldn't do too much about PSG's opener after it took a huge deflection off Mikel. Will feel he let himself down, though, after rushing out to try and stop Cavani's late effort - but failing. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta - 6 out of 10 Endured a few problems up against the pace of Lucas Moura but, on the whole, was solid - exemplified by when he magnificently outran the Brazilian to clear the danger with Moura through on goal. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Gary Cahill - 7 out of 10 Starting as Chelsea's only first-choice centre-back, the defender managed to withstand the early pressure from the hosts with some fine last-ditch tackles and clearances. Showed once again, why he deserves to be a first-choice option in central defence for the Blues. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Branislav Ivanovic - 6 out of 10 The Serbia international captained the side in the absence of the injured John Terry and played in the unfamiliar central defensive position, but did well despite the amount of pressure PSG applied. Should have kept a closer eye on Cavani in the build-up to the winner, though. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Baba Rahman - 5 out of 10 Defended well on the most part, but endured problems dealing with the sheer pace of Lucas Moura and Di Maria. However, as has been the case since he arrived at Chelsea, the left-back impressed going forward and it was Baba Rahman who provided the cross from which Costa nearly scored. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings John Obi Mikel - 6 out of 10 Initially stuggled to deal with the pace and pressure from PSG in midfield, and it saw him receive a yellow card for a foul on Lucas Moura. He then needlessly gave away a free kick from which Ibrahimovic scored - after it deflected off Mikel's leg - but he made amends with his header on the stroke of half time. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Cesc Fabregas - 5 out of 10 Tried to get involved in Chelsea's attacks, but was marked well by the likes of Motta. However, it was his run forward just before the break that forced the corner kick from which Mikel scored. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Pedro - 5 out of 10 Endured a quiet first 45 minutes at the Parc des Princes following on from his scintillating performance against Newcastle United, but did well to defend when needed. Was booked for a high boot to Verratti. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Willian - 6 out of 10 After scoring at the weekend, the Brazilian was involved in many of Chelsea's best attacks going forward before he delivered the corner from which Mikel scored. His understanding with the likes of Costa shows why he is an important member of this team. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Eden Hazard - 5 out of 10 An ultimately disappointing showing from the Belgian as he failed to make an impact against a side, who he has been linked to numerous times and a team he himself talked up joining this week. Was hauled off with 20 minutes to go and replaced by Oscar. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Diego Costa - 6 out of 10 Opened up the game in quiet fashion, but the striker should then have scored but saw his fine header parried onto the bar by Trapp. Still, his presence in the box took the attention of two PSG players which left Mikel free to score although he will be expected to have a greater impact in the second leg. Getty Images PSG vs Chelsea player ratings Oscar - 5 out of 10 Replaced Hazard with 20 minutes to go but wasted a glorious late chance to score a crucial away goal when he fired at Trapp. Getty Images

Despite now playing his tenth season for Chelsea, the goal against PSG was only Mikel’s fifth for the club in his decade at Stamford Bridge, but after committing the foul which led to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s opener - which deflected off Mikel - the defensive midfielder admits he felt duty bound to make up for the mistake which gifted PSG the first goal.

“It was good to score, I had to get one for the team,” Mikel said. “The first goal was a big deflection from me and my foul that I committed.

“I had to make the foul because their guy was going deeper and deeper into the box. I know I had to make a challenge, either to get the ball or foul him, but then the deflection was a big one.

“But we came back strong and I got the equaliser back, which was great. Hopefully this goal keeps us alive in the tie and we believe we can do it. We can get a very good result at home which can see us through. We’re still alive.

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel is congratulated on his goal (Getty Images)

“The second leg is going to be massive and hopefully this away goal is going to be decisive. If we get a 1-0 win, we’re through. We have to believe we can do it and believe in what we’re doing with Guus.”

“It feels great to be back in the team,” Mikel added. “Sometimes it is disappointing not to be part of the team, not to play, but I’ve always been professional.

“I never speak out, I never get upset. I carry on doing my job, coming to training every day to train with the guys who are playing.

“This is football. In one second it changes. I’ve always believed in myself and kept doing what I was doing and Guus came in and has given me the opportunity, and hopefully that will continue.

“It is my 10th season and it will be 11 years at the club since 2006. I don’t know, maybe I will have a testimonial soon!”

With Hiddink yet to suffer a domestic defeat in his second spell at interim manager, Sunday’s clash with City offers Chelsea the chance to boost their hopes of ending the campaign with silverware in the FA Cup.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini has already warned that he will make wholesale changes to his team due to a Champions League encounter with Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine just 76 hours later and Mikel admits it is a tie that Chelsea are determined to win.

“You never know what team they’ll put out,” Mikel said. “But I’m sure they want to win the FA Cup as much as we do.

“We want to win every game. We want to win every cup and it’s going to be massive. Sunday is going to be big.