THEY have been assembled from all points west, though often via circuitous routes. Juan Culio, who worked as a bricklayer in his native Argentina to support his family for six years from the age of 13, played briefly for Independiente in Buenos Aires and eventually pitched up from Deportes La Serena, of Chile. Yssouf Kone, born in Burkina Faso, played in Italy, Morocco and China before spending 2½ years in Norway with Rosenborg. And so the list continues: a collection of Portuguese, Brazilians, Argentinians and Africans, with a mere six homeborn players.

They are Cluj, the Romanian club standing between Chelsea and the first knockout round of the Champions League. And they have an Italian coach, Maurizio Trombetta, who was thrust into the role after Ioan Andone was sacked in the summer. His only experience in a head coaching role had been in the sixth tier of his homeland league.

While an away win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday will surely require the combination of a grotesque misjudgment by the hosts and an inspired display by the visitors, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men have been warned.

Cluj defeated Roma at Stadio Olimpico in their first Champions League fixture and followed up by holding the Blues to a goalless draw. That was one of only two points Chelsea have won away in these group games; hence their predicament. Last season’s runners-up need to beat Cluj to guarantee a place in the knockout rounds, a feat they have managed in all six of their previous campaigns.

Asked if it was unthinkable that Chelsea fail, Scolari agreed: “It is possible because we give this opportunity to other teams. Maybe we have one or two problems in the game because I don’t have [Frank] Lampard but I believe in this team.” The story of Cluj, sited in the historical capital of Transylvania, a university city of about 350,000, shows lesser clubs that summits can be conquered. In another, less romantic sense, it fits into the template of contemporary football advancement: chuck money at it. Or, as owner Arpad Paszkany declared last year after his largesse transformed what was a third division side only six years ago: “I’m ready to give a quarter of my fortune to build the strongest team Romanian football has ever known.”

Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery, and Paszkany, a former builder, perfumier and car-parts trader who accumulated his wealth as a property tycoon, wears the epithet of “the Romanian Abramovich” with pride, though his investment has been a more modest £40m.

The ascent of these upstarts to Europe’s elite competition was not well received in the capital, Bucharest, where Steaua, Rapid and Dinamo do not expect to have their dominance challenged.

Traditionally, that triumvirate also believe in nurturing home-grown talent. But, as with many issues in the former Eastern bloc, ethnic origins lie just below the surface. Paszkany is of Hungarian stock. At one time, Cluj competed in the Hungarian league. Gigi Becali, owner of Steaua Bucharest, said: “It would be a national shame if a team of foreigners, a Hungarian team, represents Romania in the Champions League.” As Cluj prepared for their first foray into the Champions League, reality was expected to bite. But the team from the birthplace of the Cheeky Girls surprised everyone.

Chelsea have not lost at home in 14 Champions League matches. But Kone will remind Chelsea to beware complacency. He was in the Rosenborg side whose draw at Stamford Bridge last season was the precursor to Jose Mourinho’s departure.