Scolari is quite similar to Jose Mourinho in various aspects. One such aspect is respecting all the competitions and the desiring to win all of them. But we’ve always seen the top premier league teams field weakened teams for the league cup. While this can be seen as disrespect to the cup, the fact is, even the weakened sides that the premier league teams put out can do the job.

Chelsea does not field weakened sides, so to say. Generally, it is the usual starting eleven that has reserve players in three or four places. A team that has Cech, Lampard, Drogba etc cannot come under the definition of ‘weakened side’. Of course it would be weaker than the Chelsea first team in a premier league match but no way the same as what the Man Utd and Arsenals do.

Tonight, for this league cup match, the team selection has to be spot on. There are four objectives here: (i) to give a game to the youngsters (ii) to give a game to the players needing match practice (iii) to rest some of them a bit (iv) to win this match. Therefore, I’m sure players like Drogba and Ballack will play a role in this match. Also, I want to see players like Franco di Santo, Fabio Paim and a bit of Mineiro may be.

See if we experiment too much and see Portsmouth beat us at Fratton park, we should not complain much. Pompey have just got a humiliating beating at Eastlands and they would be expected to show a reaction. If our team happens to be a reserve team with some first teamers, as against the usual cup mix of first team with some reserve players, we run a risk of losing this away fixture.

Do I value league cup? Yes. But if we lose tonight, I won’t cry over it. I’ve seen Chelsea lose to mighty Barnsley. Portsmouth are a good team. If we don’t take the game seriously enough, we could be beaten. If there is one thing I don’t want to see, it is the complete Chelsea first team walking in at Fratton park tonight. Please no. I don’t want to see Anelka, Joe Cole, Cech, Terry, Bosingwa, Ashley Cole and Mikel. I’ll have a team captained by Lampard with a lot of able players around such as Bridge, Ferreira, Franco, Fabio, Carlo, Bridge, Mineiro, Hutchinson, Sinclair, Drogba . . . you can complete this list.

That’s it. Short post today. Gotta run.