Graphic: CFJ Cluj v Chelsea likely line-ups

In less than three months in charge of Chelsea, Luiz Felipe Scolari has energised the club by giving members of his squad licence to express themselves and it seems that his respect for personal freedoms also applies off the pitch. The Chelsea manager revealed yesterday that his players are free to do as they wish on their days off, whether it be indulging in wine, women or song, because he has no wish to police their social lives.

It is difficult to envisage José Mourinho allowing John Terry to have a post-match beer with Stoke City fans, as the Chelsea captain did at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday evening, but Scolari runs a more relaxed regime. Terry's willingness to engage those who were abusing him did him great credit, with a bottle of Stella Artois the least he deserved for his troubles, as Scolari recognises.

The Brazilian is partial to the odd drink and, as he brought training to a close yesterday by conducting shooting practice in the foothills of the Transylvanian Alps, it appeared that his laid-back approach was working. “I was most impressed with the fact that John had the character to confront the Stoke fans and make it up with them,” Scolari said. “The day after the players play in Chelsea, they are free. I am not a policeman.”

Petr Cech confirmed that the players are revelling in their newfound freedom, although the Czech Republic goalkeeper is more likely to spend any spare time playing with his dog at home than enjoying a night on the town. “At Chelsea, every player is very professional and knows what they can do,” he said. “Everybody knows what is necessary to be ready for another game, especially when you have a lot of travelling and a lot of games.

“It's up to every player to judge and if you want to have a beer, you can have a beer. When you are at home, you do what you think is best.”

It is easy to relax when things are going well, as they are for Chelsea. They have secured six wins from eight unbeaten matches under their new manager, although Scolari insisted that he would not reach for his truncheon if the visiting team lose to CFR Cluj, a club who were playing in the third division of the Romanian league only six years ago.

This part of Romania has a history of producing hair-raising acts capable of causing a fright, from Dracula to the Cheeky Girls, but Scolari said that a home win should not be regarded as a surprise. With Chelsea having reached the Champions League final last season under a manager for whom he had little regard, Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, would no doubt disagree and Scolari's honeymoon could become a horror show in the space of 90 minutes.

“Now there are no big surprises,” Scolari said. “There are no small teams any more. They [Cluj] are in this competition because they are a good team and they are champions of Romania. We have won many games in England because we respect them [other teams] and we will respect Cluj as well. It will be no surprise if we lose tomorrow, but I cannot tell the players to lose one game.”

Cluj's historic victory away to Roma a fortnight ago may have helped Chelsea because no one will be taking their opponents lightly this evening. A squad assembled by the millions of Arpad Paszkany, a local businessman, contains 14 Portuguese or South American players, many of whom are known to Scolari, which should work to his advantage.

Didier Drogba will start his first Champions League match since being sent off in the final in Moscow in May, although Scolari concedes that the Ivory Coast striker is some way from his best. “Didier is not 100 per cent ready,” he said. “He needs eight to ten more games, but when he starts the game [against Cluj] he will be better than before. Just you wait and see.”