Chelsea need to qualify against Bordeaux: Scolari

Chelsea manager Luis Felipe Scolari underlined the importance of beating Bordeaux on Wednesday to seal their seventh straight appearance in the Champions League knockout stages with a game to spare.

The charismatic Brazilian knows last season's beaten finalists came unstuck in their last away match at AS Roma when they were thumped 3-1 and is not taking the French outsiders lightly.

“We need to qualify either tomorrow or against Cluj and reach the second round,” he told a press conference here Tuesday.

“We had a chance against Roma and now we have a second chance. Myself and the players cannot wait for more chances and tomorrow (Wednesday) is the day.”

The 60-year-old played down the defeat in Italy and says the group is still wide open with just a one point lead on Roma and Bordeaux with Cluj still in the hunt three points adrift.

“The game against Roma was a time when they were in crisis and it was a game that if they lost they were out of the competition. They played better than us 100 per cent.

“Look, what I know about Bordeaux is that they have very good players and the result in the first match was not a normal result.

“I know they are in fifth or sixth in France and they didn't start the competition very well but they have played well since and we respect this team and more. They have six points and we have only seven so there is no difference.”

The Girondins have been hit by the late withdrawal of first choice goalkeeper Ulrich Rame who failed to recover from a hamstring injury which means the gloves will be handed to 25-year-old Matthieu Valverde.

Bordeaux are coming off back to back victories over Romanian newcomers CFR Cluj which has lifted them back into contention for a spot in the final 16 but have never beaten English opposition at home in European play.

They were beaten by Manchester United 2-1 in the 1999-2000 Champions League group phase and also lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the 2006-07 pool stage as well.

Their only point at home in European action came way back in the first round of the 1997-98 UEFA Cup first round when they battled Aston Villa to a 1-1 stalemate.

Scolari also made it clear his team are not thinking about Sunday's showdown with Arsenal in a top of the table Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge and says qualification is crucial and not especially winning the group.

“Myself and the players will not think about Arsenal until after the game tomorrow. If we start thinking about Arsenal, we might lose tomorrow.

“If we have the second leg in the Champions League at home in the next round that it's great but there are two things.

“In the past teams have won the second leg away from home and other times the home team has won but there is not a big difference. The most important thing is to qualify.”

In-form striker Nicolas Anelka hopes to carry his hot touch in the Premier League onto the European stage where he has been misfiring so far in the competition.

“I may be need a bit of luck but the important thing is that we get the win and that the team pick up the three points or at least a draw,” said the French forward.

“The game tomorrow will be a lot different from the first match at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea won 4-0) and we are expecting a very tough game.”