Roman Abramovich will have surveyed Chelsea's defeat against Inter Milan and pondered: "How much is it going to cost?"

It is what rich and powerful men do.

Their first reaction is to spend. Throw money at the problem. If the old train set doesn't work then buy a new one.

There is no doubt Chelsea need investment. They are an ageing side, one which has hit a plateau in their development when it comes to mixing it with the top echelon of European football.

Against Inter Milan on Tuesday night the lack of guile was obvious, the absence of hunger glaring.

Yet Chelsea need more than an injection of cash from their owner. They need a declaration from Abramovich that he is prepared to invest in time and patience.

The Russian billionaire has gone through seven managers in six years - Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luis Felipe Scolari, Ray Wilkins on a temporary basis, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti.

Any company in the financial world changing its most vital employee so frequently would be deemed a basket case.

Which is why it is time for Abramovich to see sense and give Ancelotti three years at least to come up with the Champions League trophy. Lots of support. No pressure.

The current side is not Ancelotti's team. It is Mourinho's side, older and richer, without the unique camaraderie which the Portuguese manager engendered at the club in his three-and-a-half years in charge.

Since Ancelotti, who won two Champions League trophies at AC Milan, took over he has had nothing but distractions. From the publicity surrounding captain John Terry's private life to the salacious headlines which routinely accompany Ashley Cole.

The current Chelsea side hit their peak on that Moscow night in 2008 when Terry hit the post in the Champions League final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester United.

They have been sliding ever since. Frank Lampard is not the force of old, Terry's form in the last three months is a concern for England manager Fabio Capello, Michael Ballack is a strolling anonymity, John Obi Mikel a disappointment and while Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are fine talents they do not complement each other as a strikeforce.

Of course, they get by in a Premier League which this season has been categorised by mediocrity. They have reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, which is a testimony to the depth of their squad.

But when it comes to that extra quality required against opposition with real class they have been found wanting.

There are more ways than one to skin a cat, of course, but has it not occurred to Abramovich to look at how Manchester United have managed so much success, including two Champions League trophies in recent times, at Old Trafford?

By backing their manager. By always strengthening from a position of strength. By demanding the most-prized stars demonstrate the same hunger as the youngsters battling on the fringes. By never allowing the team to become stale.

It will take big money to revitalise Chelsea. Already Fernando Torres has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge if Liverpool miss out on a Champions League place.

That would test Abramovich's commitment to splash the cash once more. But they also need the sort of creative spark which Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder supplied for Inter Milan in midweek.

It would take a minimum of three major signings to give Chelsea the makeover they require.

Even then nothing is certain.

Real Madrid bought Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso and still they went out in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Arsenal, by contrast, have spent the square root of diddly squat and are in the last eight and challenging for the Premier League title.

Money by itself guarantees nothing. Football is a simple game but the route to success is more complex.

Almost always it requires a cocktail of talent, time, cash, tactical nous, patience and unquenchable desire.

And an owner prepared to invest in them all.