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Looking back to the dark days of the late 70s and early 80s, Chelsea had a team that was, at one stage, entirely home grown. All decent players had to be sold and no one could be bought. We were crap but the players played to the best of their abilities and with the enthusiasm that the supporters had for the club. After Bates came and money improved we bought some players who were identified with other sides: Joey Jones and Mickey Thomas particularly. Those players, call them mercaneries if you will, but relatively cheap mercaneries, played as though Chelsea was in their blood. I will always remember Jones coming on the pitch before games and pumping up the crowd. He remains my favourite player.
I would presonally prefer a team like that who had only a modicum of success (OK, Full Members Cup, Div 2 winners and then up to sixth place in the first season back) than hugely talented players with no soul and lots of trophies. But I don't speak for most supporters.
My point is that players can be motivated to give their all for a club. It is just more difficult these days with intense media scrutiny, punditry, social media, and money.
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cliveo
I don't know if it's always been the case (my knowledge of football only goes back to when it started in the early 90s), but all of those clubs have/had players who you would identify completely with the club - Lahm, Puyol, Iniesta, Busquets, Terry, Lampard, Ramos, Casillas. Maybe that has superseded the need for long-term managers.
Maybe that is a necessary component too, and could that be what is making this Chelsea team look a bit adrift. I don't know if Lampard or Terry on the coaching staff would quite be the same.