Frank Lampard has no doubts that Chelsea will soon return to winning ways because under-fire manager Jose Mourinho "is a winner".
The 37-year-old midfielder was speaking at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday where he received his OBE from Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.
Chelsea are currently experiencing their poorest start to a Premier League season for over a decade, having lost five of their opening 10 matches and are down in 15th spot - 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
On manager Mourinho's recent woes, Lampard - speaking before Chelsea's penalty shoot-out defeat to Stoke in the Capital One Cup - told Sky Sports News HQ: "He's a winner. His record says that and it will be hurting him.
"But I have no doubt about his ability and it will get him through."
As for Chelsea's stuttering start to the season, he added: "We've all been in that situation. It happens.
"Chelsea will be back. It's a blip. You don't expect them to lose that many games at the start of the season, but they'll turn it around.
"They have great ability in the squad. It'll be difficult to win the Premier League now but they'll move up to where they belong soon.
"There are too many players who are not quite in form at the moment and that's why they are having problems. But they'll be back."
Lampard was honoured for services to football. He spent six years at West Ham before moving to Chelsea in 2001 and went on to make more than 400 appearances for the Blues.
While at Stamford Bridge he collected a Champions League winners' medal in 2012, along with three Premier League successes, four FA Cups, two League Cups and one Europa League triumph. He also earned more than 100 caps for England.
And on receiving his OBE, Lampard said: "It's right up there with my achievements on the pitch with Chelsea. A very proud day for myself and my family.
"It was surreal. We flew back from New York last night. I was very excited, have never been to the Palace before."