Graphic: Chelsea v Roma

José Mourinho has finally admitted that Didier Drogba, the Chelsea forward, is a diver. The Inter Milan coach, who had to defend the player against the accusation during his time as manager at Stamford Bridge, also labelled Fernando Torres, of Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo, of Manchester United, and Robin van Persie, of Arsenal, as among the players that he believes regularly deceive referees in the Barclays Premier League.

Drogba has been the target of criticism from several managers in recent seasons, notably Rafael Benítez, who was furious about Drogba's behaviour in the Champions League semi-final, first leg in April. The Liverpool manager said that he was “really disappointed” by the sympathetic view taken of Drogba's regular falls by Konrad Plautz, the Austrian referee.“I am not the Chelsea manager any more and I don't have to defend them any more, so I think it's correct if I say Drogba is a diver,” Mourinho said. “Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Robin van Persie are the divers who dive more.”

Far from attracting ire because of the behaviour of their forwards, these days Chelsea are being noted for their flair, but Luiz Felipe Scolari said yesterday that his side's effervescent displays cannot continue indefinitely. The good news for England is that the Chelsea manager also talked about stopping John Terry's injury problems.

The England captain missed his country's past two World Cup qualifying games with pain in his back, an area where he had surgery in 2007, but was able to play the full 90 minutes for Chelsea in Saturday's 5-0 win over Middlesbrough. His manager said yesterday, in the build-up to this evening's Champions League group A game against Roma, that the club have devised a treatment regime that, it is hoped, will ease the problem.

“I don't think he needs more than our medical staff have done with him at this moment,” Scolari said. “After three days with our medical staff, it's normal that he could play after having a small problem in the back. From now on, he'll have a specific exercise for this problem. I don't think he'll need surgery, but I'm not a doctor.”

Joe Cole has an outside chance of being involved tonight and Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho trained yesterday, though Michael Ballack, Drogba and Ashley Cole remain sidelined.

Roma lost 4-0 at home against Inter on Sunday but Scolari does not expect them to pull down the shutters at Stamford Bridge. Francesco Totti, the Roma forward, should start after recovering from a knee injury.

Chelsea (possible; 4-1-4-1): P Cech - J Bosingwa, J Terry, Alex, W Bridge - J Belletti - S Kalou, F Lampard, JO Mikel, F Malouda - N Anelka.

Roma (possible; 4-2-3-1): Doni - Cicinho, C Panucci, P Mexès, JA Riise - D De Rossi, M Brighi - R Taddei, S Perrotta, M Vucinic - F Totti.

Referee: K Vassaras (Greece).
Television: Live on Sky Sports Xtra from 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45pm).