The success of Chelsea's current visit to the Italian capital, also the venue for this season's Champions League Final, can only be judged after tonight's result, but Felipe Scolari is very happy with the team's reception so far and preparations for the game.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Monday evening, the Chelsea manager insisted the season's climax event in the Stadio Olimpico is far from his current thoughts.

'May is a long way away, we need first to win tomorrow,' he stated. 'Tomorrow the show is not for May, tomorrow we are here to beat Roma.'

Such a win should send the team into the knockout stages, a big step along the path to a return to Rome, and if that dream of Scolari and all Chelsea players and supporters is realised, he hopes arrangements for the game can be along similar lines

The squad has been staying in a hotel in close proximity to the stadium with stunning grounds and views over the city. Contrary to reports in some of today's newspapers, Scolari has not asked the club to book it in advance.

Asked in yesterday's conference: 'How do you like your hotel in Rome, and have you thought about booking it for May?', Scolari replied:

'No. But I like this hotel. It's beautiful and this area that is the hotel is fantastic. When we walk, it is a very good area. If they accept, we book the hotel for May. If the hotel accept, we try.'

Also speaking ahead of the meeting with Roma, Scolari is relishing the thought of a 'selection headache' when the squad is finally given a clean bill of health.

Ashley Cole's absence from tonight's match just as Didier Drogba is approaching readiness to start a game once more continues the one-in, one-out injury problem he has spoken about recently.

'Now I am not happy because I don't have all the players at my disposal,' Scolari said.

'When I have these players it is very good for me because then I decide who plays, who is on the bench; what is possible for this, what is possible for that. This is my job as a coach.

'My job is to talk. I need to explain it to a player why he does not play. It is a team and I am part of this team.'

Scolari has also discussed in the last week the need for Chelsea to have multiple methods of play to fulfil the potential of the squad. As well as giving him the challenge of man-managing players, a fully-fit squad brings the choices he desires.

'Only in one or two games we have not played well, and we paid for this.

'Everyday we try in training to make something more than before because maybe in the future we need it. And maybe in the future I have more options when I receive back Carvalho, Essien, Ballack and Ashley Cole.'

Salomon Kalou has spoken in Rome about player attitude to a big squad.

Kalou and Scolari

'Everyone is giving his best. It doesn't matter which team plays, the players on the pitch are trying to deliver a performance.

'We have a new manager and everyone is doing his best and to impress him. It is working out quite well and we have to follow what the manager says.'