Harry eager to wreck Scolari's home party

Next season's fixture list, printed today, has given Redknapp's Portsmouth a trip to Stamford Bridge on 16 August where Scolari will hope to get his Chelsea revolution off to a winning start.

Last month Redknapp won his first trophy as a manager, guiding Portsmouth to the FA Cup. At the Bridge, he will face one of the game's biggest names - a man who managed Brazil to the 2002 World Cup and who could finish his Portugal reign with a European Championship title added to his CV.

The last time Portsmouth went to Stamford Bridge Jose Mourinho was the manager and Chelsea came out on top, winning 1-0.

A repeat of that result would suit Scolari, who will be delighted to start his five-year contract at home, giving him the chance to establish an immediate rapport with the Stamford Bridge faithful.

It's ironic that the man he replaced at Chelsea, Avram Grant, was previously the technical director at Portsmouth and remains a friend of Redknapp and the club.

The season is barely a month old before Chelsea face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on 20 September. They visit Old Trafford on 10 January. Arsenal start the season against newly-promoted West Brom at Emirates Stadium with Fulham their first away match. They will be deeply involved in the climax to the season, meeting Chelsea at home on 9 May and visiting Manchester United on 16 May.

But there is little doubt the Bridge will be the place for intrigue. The appointment of Scolari ensures that, win, lose or draw, Chelsea will once again feature prominently in the headlines. For all his international pedigree, the Brazilian has little working knowledge of the Premier League or rival players and coaches like Sir Alex Ferguson whose mission will include undermining this latest chapter in the evolution of Chelsea under Roman Abramovich.

There is no love lost between Ferguson and Scolari, whose use of Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal's friendlies has irritated the United manager. More recently, the Brazilian suggested that the United winger should 'take opportunities when they come along' when discussing the player's future with the media prior to Euro 2008.

Chelsea's Russian owner knows Scolari will not be intimidated by Ferguson or his fiery reputation. Abramovich has chosen a hard-line manager who is noted for his iron will and, like Ferguson-many in the Premier League will be watching for any hints that his disciplinary style is resented by the millionaires in the Chelsea dressing room.

He demands loyalty and obedience from his players and is unimpressed by celebrity status. Of course, he had no playing career of his own to talk of but the same could be said of his predecessors, Grant and Mourinho.

Hugely successful as a coach with Brazil and Portugal at international level, the big question for Chelsea fans will concern the suitability of Scolari and the speed with which he adapts to a new and unfamiliar challenge.

Can he, for instance, quickly embrace the intensity of a nine-month Premier League season?

He will already be aware of the importance of results against title rivals but he will quickly realise that even teams of average quality are good enough to cause Chelsea serious problems.

Last season points dropped at home against Fulham, Wigan and Bolton were, in the end, as damaging to Chelsea's title hopes as defeats against Manchester United and Arsenal.