Deco rates Chelsea chances

Chelsea’s Portugal playmaker, Deco, is convinced they can make light of Frank Lampard’s absence and qualify for the next phase of the Champions League.

Chelsea take on Romanian no-hopers CFR Cluj at Stamford Bridge tonight knowing that only a victory will ensure them of a place in the knockout stage of the competition.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side have squandered two chances to qualify already with defeat against Roma and a draw in Bordeaux putting the brakes on their campaign.

Now, failure to get anything out of Group A’s bottom club and a Bordeaux victory over Roma will put Chelsea out of the competition at the group stage for the first time their history.

But they will have to succeed without the inspirational Lampard who was sent off in Bordeaux and misses out through suspension.

“It will be difficult to play without Frank,” admitted Deco. “He is a great player and one of the leaders of this team but I think we can win without him.

“Of course, we would have liked him to play. But he is out and we need to come up with a solution to that.

“We have to win the game. It has been difficult for us with so many injuries. But we know our responsibilities. It will be a difficult game but if we win we will qualify for the next stage.”

Meanwhile Scolari insisted he was not feeling the pressure ahead of the most important game of his Chelsea career and claimed it was nothing compared to managing Brazil.

He said: “Do you know how many people live in Brazil? I was coach there and you think there is pressure here? It is zero pressure.

“The pressure was when I was coach in Brazil because all the people in that country are coaches.

“This is only one more game. It is important for our qualification for the next phase. It is the same as other games because we need three points. If we win, we are in the next phase.

“It is not the most important game of the season – it is one more game.

“If we lose, then maybe were are out. It is possible. If we lose tomorrow and we are out of the Champions League, I will not feel good. But no more than that. This is life, this is football.”

Winger Florent Malouda is doubtful with a slight knock but Joe Cole is back for the Blues after recovering from an ankle problem he collected against Bordeaux.