Graphic: showdown at Old Trafford

Luiz Felipe Scolari is remarkably relaxed for a man who concedes that he will be in trouble if Chelsea are beaten by Manchester United tomorrow. The Brazilian’s main concern before a match that could revitalise his side’s season is coping with the freezing English winter — “I want a beach, I want hot water,” he said yesterday — rather than the even colder front that could blow in from Russia should Chelsea continue to struggle.

Something strange seems to have befallen the manager in his six months at Stamford Bridge, the man who made his name with a Grêmio team who intimidated their opponents, caused a scandal in his home country by not taking Romário to the 2002 World Cup finals and less than 18 months ago punched Ivica Dragutinovic, the Serbia defender, after a European Championship qualifying match with Portugal. An individual who once refused a request of the Brazilian President is now eager to please. There is little doubt that Scolari has mellowed, whether through age, the security provided by a £5 million-a-year pay packet or the prospect of a long and luxurious retirement.

Such serenity is seen in his devotion to the style of play that has served him well in the past and the apparent ease with which he is coping with the unique pressure of managing Chelsea, which eventually took its toll on José Mourinho. The only time Scolari came close to raising his voice yesterday followed a criticism of his chequered record in big matches with Chelsea, and even then his response was matter-of-fact. “I don’t need to answer this criticism,” he said. “Follow my past. I have not only won the World Cup. I won two Copa Libertadores, three Brazilian cups and many things in Brazil. People can say what they like. I only need to say to my players and my board that I work hard.”

Scolari was less sure of himself when asked to explain Chelsea’s dismal run of one win in five matches. “If I knew why, I would change it and do things differently,” he said.

However, at least one of his biggest problems is disappearing as the club’s injury problems ease. For the first time since the autumn, Scolari will have something close to his first-choice team at Old Trafford, with only Michael Essien, a long-term absentee, and Florent Malouda unavailable.

John Terry will partner Ricardo Carvalho at centre back for the first time since October and Didier Drogba’s greater physical presence is likely to mean that he is preferred to Nicolas Anelka for his fourth Barclays Premier League start of the season.

Scolari is particularly pleased to have Terry back from a three-match suspension, but, despite criticism from inside and outside the club, the Brazilian is adamant that he will not change his ways. “I prepare the same for every game, whether it’s the World Cup final or with Chelsea,” he said.

For all his laid-back charm, Scolari is realistic about the challenge facing Chelsea, describing his first visit to Old Trafford as one that his side cannot afford to lose. The presence in the crowd of Mourinho will add another element of pressure, the Inter Milan coach preparing for the first leg of his side’s Champions League first knockout round tie against United next month.

United trail Chelsea by four points with two games in hand, putting the onus on the visiting team tomorrow. “We need to win,” Scolari said. “In these games if you give a chance to your opponents to advance three points, it’s difficult to recover. If we want to [finish] first, we have to play for a win. We need to win because we need to stay in front of them. We have 18 games left, but if you lose against a direct opponent you’re in trouble.”

Given that Avram Grant, his predecessor, left the club after finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final, such problems would inevitably lead Roman Abramovich, the owner, to question Scolari’s future, but at least that would bring him closer to the beach he craves. In such a situation, his calmness is understandable.

Chelsea face a possible row with Fifa and the Argentine FA (AFA) over their striker, Franco Di Santo. The 19-year-old has been selected by Argentina for the South American Under-20 Championship which starts on January 19, but Di Santo says that Scolari is refusing him permission to go. “He said there are too many injured forwards and needs me here,” Di Santo said. However, Sergio Batista, the Argentina Under-20 coach, wants the world governing body to force his participation. “Julio [Grondona, the AFA president and Fifa vice-president] is going to talk with Fifa and we expect to count on them,” Batista said.