Luiz Felipe Scolari has shrugged off suggestions that he is cracking under the strain of managing Chelsea, claiming that he feels ‘zero pressure’ compared with his time as coach of Brazil.
The Chelsea boss takes his side into their crucial Champions League tie against CFR Cluj tonight, knowing a win will guarantee them a place in the knockout stages.
Anything less though and their hopes of progress could be dashed if Bordeaux overcome Roma at the Olympic Stadium.
But Scolari said the pressure he is under, is child’s play in comparison to his world cup glory days with his native Brazil.
"You know how many people live in Brazil? 180 million. And I was coach there. You think there is pressure here?" he said.
"This is zero pressure. Pressure was when I was coach of the Brazilian national team because all the people there are coaches."
Chelsea could only manage a draw against the Romanian minnows earlier in the competition and their erratic form in this season’s campaign has left them on the brink of embarrassment, just eight months after playing in the Champions League final.
But Scolari is adamant he won't press the panic button if Chelsea, who have never failed to qualify for the knockout stages in seven attempts, suffer an early exit.
"If we lose the game maybe we are out. It is possible. If I lose and I am out of the Champions League I won't feel good but not more than this," Scolari said. "This is life. This is football.
"It is one more game. It is important for our qualification for the next phase but it is the same as the other games. It is three points and we need to win for the second place.
"If we win we will be in a good situation in the next phase but it is not the most important game in the season."
It will be a nervous evening for a Chelsea side who will have to make do without the suspended Frank Lampard, after he was sent off in the draw with Bordeaux a fortnight ago.
Taking his place in the central midfield berth will be Deco, pulling the strings on the back of his goal-scoring display at Bolton on Saturday.
And the Portuguese starlet knows the Blues have their fate in their hands and will have only themselves to blame if they suffer a humiliating early exit.
"We know how important it is. We know that we need to win or maybe we don't go to the next round," he said.
"We know the responsibility we have but we just have to try to do our best.
"We have one game to qualify. It is a difficult game because of the pressure for us but we know we just have to win."
It should be straightforward for Scolari's side but their sketchy form at Stamford Bridge has unsettled the players.
And while 'Zero pressure' may be how Chelsea's brassed-off manager describes this evening's clash, if they lose, he may well find out what zero tolerance means.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
CHELSEA (4,1,4,1): CECH, BOSINGWA, ALEX, TERRY, A.COLE, J.COLE, MIKEL, BALLACK, DECO, DROGBA, ANELKA.
CFR CLUJ (4,3,3):CLARO, PANIN, CADU, PEREIRA, MURESAN, DANI, DEAC DUBARBIER, CULIO, TRICA, KONE.
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