FOOTBALL FOCUS

Luiz Felipe Scolari is concentrating on our match with Tottenham this weekend, despite the distractions of the transfer window and a growing injury list.

With the clock ticking before Monday's transfer deadline, speculation remains on the future of Real Madrid winger Robinho, for whom we have made a bid.

Scolari insisted he had no news on the 24-year-old's future.

'I don't know about Robinho, because it is not my job to talk about the players. They try to bring Robinho here but my job is in the pitch, and that is for our board,' the manager said. 'I need to think about Tottenham, not whether players are coming or not. I don't know anything because I haven't spoken to Peter [Kenyon] for two days.

'He is a very good player, I think all the coaches in the world want him, but my feeling is Tottenham, I need to play against Tottenham, what happens outside the field is not important for me.'

He has discussed our opponents with the players, who have regaled him with stories of our last meeting, the thrilling 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane in March.

'They talked to me about the 4-4, not the Carling Cup Final. They told me about the goal in the 88th minute, and how it lost the Premier League. They talked about some players and their quality, and in this moment it is important for Tottenham not to lose another game,' Scolari said.

'They play against us and want their first point, or three points. We know this and have some problems, we need to respect them.'

Scolari is likely to be missing several players for the clash, with Michael Essien and Michael Ballack rejoining the injury list this week.

The German took a knock on the opening day of the season against Portsmouth, while the Wigan game was Essien's first since our friendly against Lokomotiv Moscow at the beginning of August.

'I lost one or two players more for this game, sure one. After the last game I said some players played because they wanted to help the Chelsea team. They are not only players, they are men,' said Scolari.

'This time it is impossible to say for one player to play because he feels his foot more than before. After tomorrow I think I have one player out and maybe one more out if not training tomorrow.

'I need to play players out of position, to rearrange players, because two or three midfielders have injuries. My problems are Ballack and Essien.'

Also ruled out for this weekend is Drogba, but Scolari is hopeful that the 30-year-old could be in action for our next league game against Manchester City in two weeks' time.

'I expect Drogba to be ready for the game against Manchester City because now we have 14 days for training, he isn't ready for the national team, so Monday maybe he plays in the reserve team for 45 minutes.'

We entertain Spurs on Sunday with contrasting fortunes from our north London rivals, who have lost their two opening league games. Scolari understands the importance of what is a standout fixture in the calendar.

'Tottenham would think they would start the season better than they have. I know Juande [Ramos] and the players for Tottenham.

'You need to remember that it is a big chance for Tottenham to grow, because it is a derby. If you win a derby it is fantastic. When I arrived here some people said to me you need to win three derbies - Tottenham, Fulham and West Ham! The other teams? No you don't need to win, just these teams! For me, I need to beat all the teams.'

It has been a busy week for news at Stamford Bridge, with the departure of two players as well as the draw for the group stages of this season's Champions League.

Scolari is content with the group we have been given, and insists we will not be surprised by Roma, Bordeaux or the Romanians CFR Cluj.

'I know you ask me maybe about Cluj from Romania, I know more than you think. I know they have 11 Portuguese people playing there, and I follow them because when I was in the national team, I heard news about Cluj every week. I have all the information about them, and Bordeaux and Roma, who are big opponents,' he explained.