Uefa Champions League last 16 first leg
Venue: Parken Stadion Date: Tuesday, 22 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live & BBC Sport website; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & mobiles; also live on Sky Sports 2
The Blues face Copenhagen in Tuesday's last-16 Champions League tie with the competition being the only realistic chance they have of winning silverware.
"It's been difficult because at times we have shown our quality," Terry said.
"But we are where we are. We have to man up a bit as a group of players and take responsibility."
Following their FA Cup exit and a slide to fifth in the Premier League table, Chelsea will play the Danish league leaders with owner Roman Abramovich seeking his first European trophy since he bought the club in 2003.
However, the Blues have a challenge to qualify for next season's competition.
They are two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, while third-placed Manchester City are four points better off than Chelsea.
And Terry agreed with midfielder Frank Lampard that not qualifying for the competition next season would be a disaster.
"That's obviously the worst thing to think about, looking at Spurs and City," he added. "They're playing well and picking up points at a crucial time.
"It would be disastrous for the football club if we don't qualify for the Champions League. It's even hard to get my head around it now."
Despite a stuttering season, Terry, 30, insisted that the team was not too old and had the necessary ambition to go all the way in the Champions League this time.
He added: "That's what we've still got at the football club - hunger and desire. We missed out on the Premier League for three years when Man United won it and it hurt.
"That's what I lose sleep over, watching other teams lift trophies, because I want to be the one lifting trophies for this football club.
"We went through a bad spell in the Premier League last year. You get the speculation, you get the people saying the squad is past its best, we're getting too old - and then we go on and win the Double.
"The manager has brought in two very good young players as well - we're talking world-class players - in Fernando Torres and David Luiz."
Chelsea boss Ancelotti said the club could still enjoy their best campaign, with the Blues still looking for their first European Cup.
"Maybe it could be the best season that we can ever have a memory of. Maybe it could be the worst. I don't know," Ancelotti stated. "But wait, wait. Chelsea has not died. It is still alive."
The Italian boss won the Champions League with AC Milan in 2007 and led the Rossoneri to fourth place in Serie A that season, despite the club being docked eight points in the Italian match-fixing scandal.
So the manager, who has insisted he will not quit his job, said he can cope with the pressure.
"A lot of times, I've been able to manage this moment. I want to remind you in 2007 it was the same situation and the Italian journalists know this," added Ancelotti, who saw Everton beat his men 4-3 on penalties in their FA Cup fourth-round replay on Saturday.
"The Champions League is the most important competition. We're involved this season more compared with the other competitions.
"To be under pressure, this means to be focused and try to do our best in this competition, to try to win.
"We have to think game by game and move on from this stage. It will not be easy because Copenhagen are a very good team with great organisation.
"We have to pay attention and play 180 minutes, not just 90. We have to prepare well for both games."
Copenhagen's players are confident of piling on the misery for Chelsea at the Parken Stadion.
Danes look forward to Chelsea clashThe Danes have never lost at home in the Champions League, beating the likes of Celtic and Manchester United in recent years as well as drawing with Barcelona earlier this season.
Although they have not played a competitive match since their final Champions League Group game more than two months ago and are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, they appear far from overawed about a game being billed in Denmark as the biggest in the club's history.
"Since 10 January, we have been preparing for this game and this game only," coach Stale Solbakken revealed.
"Maybe we haven't had the opposition we've needed to be at our best level but the players are in good shape and confident.
"Some of my players are so daft that they think they're a better side than Chelsea. Maybe I should be talking them down a bit.
"Some have only lost one or two games playing in this side, so they think it's easy. Confidence is very high in the team."
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