Champions League preview: Jose Mourinho will be making an obsessive effort to find fault with his handiwork. The critics have not left him riddled with self-doubt, of course, and the Chelsea manager is scouring his memory to probe for faults in Porto, the Champions League-winning side he created.

Mourinho himself has sapped his old club by plucking Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho, and Deco has joined Barcelona, but even with Nuno Valente injured the visitors' line-up will be highly familiar at Stamford Bridge this evening. The Chelsea manager knows he can expect resilience.

Victor Fernandez, his successor after Luigi del Neri's brief tenure, has a more adventurous nature, but Porto will still pit the caution they were taught against the carefulness of Mourinho's new charges at Stamford Bridge this evening. If that suggests the kind of contest that will not entrance spectators, no apologies will be forthcoming from the Chelsea manager.

He is often asked about the new conservatism in the side and, in the most thought-provoking answer he has given, invited his questioner to reflect on the mediocre European record of English clubs in modern times. That saga includes Chelsea's bungle under Claudio Ranieri in last season's semi-final.

Instilling know-how features high on Mourinho's agenda, and he has taught himself to bask in whatever hostility he inspires.

"It's the people who don't like us winning who should be worried, not us," he said.

Victory would be welcomed at a ground where, before his arrival, the team have drawn four Champions League games in a row.

He was a little bemused by the lay-out of Stamford Bridge that put him in the verbal firing line of Manchester United supporters on the opening day of the season, and tonight their places will be taken by Porto fans who nurse a grievance towards the man who abandoned them.

"If they are people who have always been Porto supporters, they cannot forget what I have done for the club," said Mourinho with a jibe at those attracted by the recent European glory. There will be a presentation to him tonight for that achievement, but this manager has no fixation with the past.

When he talks of having "nice conversations" afterwards with players such as the Porto centre-half Jorge Costa, he anticipates his commiserations will be part of the chit-chat. He reckons that his old team, as holders, are now a prime target for everyone else.

Chelsea, after the 3-0 success at Paris Saint Germain, will be close to the knockout phase if they win tonight.

Wayne Bridge, who missed the 1-0 defeat of Middlesbrough because of a calf injury, was able to train yesterday.

Over the summer, Porto signed the winger Ricardo Quaresma from Barcelona, Helder Postiga from Tottenham, the defender Pepe from Maritimo, the Greek right-back Giourkas Seitaridis from Panathinaikos, Hugo Leal from Paris Saint-Germain plus the Brazilians Diego from Santos and Luis Fabiano from Sao Paulo for a total of £16 million.

That helped pay off some of their debts but left the team uncoordinated. Leal, Diego and Postiga have failed to gel and Seitaridis and Pepe have been inconsistent. Of the new arrivals, only Luis Fabiano has looked convincing.

But it is the absence of Mourinho's influence which weighs the heaviest. Rather than the team going through a period of soul-searching, Mourinho would have taken control.

Injuries to Seitaridis and Nuno Valente mean Porto will be without both their first-choice full backs tonight.

Mourinho's side have not been devastating so far and, although he has no inclination to put on a spectacle, his attack should function more effectively. His argument that Chelsea are merely in one of those awkward patches where opportunities happen not to be converted is disingenuous. In the Chelsea system Didier Drogba frequently has to engage the centre halves and full backs by himself.

Porto are evolving menace of their own, with the Brazilian teenager Diego glowing with creativity. Before kick-off, though, Carvalho will be honoured as the best defender in Europe last season and Chelsea should be capable of choking the visitors.

CHELSEA (possible): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Bridge; Tiago, Makelele, Lampard; Duff; Gudjohnsen, Drogba.

PORTO (possible): Baia; Boswinga, Jorge Costa, Pepe, Ricardo Costa; Maniche, Diego, Costinha; Quaresma, Carlos Alberto; Postiga.

Referee: H Fandel (Germany).

Guardian Service