I struggle to sleep when Blues fail to win, reveals restless Phil

Chelsea take on Romanian side CFR Cluj at home having wasted opportunities against Roma and Bordeaux in their last two games to secure their place in the next phase.

The club have never failed to progress past the group stages and the Brazilian was feeling the strain after the 2-0 victory at Bolton on Saturday.

It was only their third win in eight games and statistics have shown that Scolari's record is the worst of the four managers who have been in charge since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

Scolari said: "When we lose or draw I feel it more than the players.

"I sleep very well before the game but when we lose I find it impossible to sleep afterwards because of the feeling.

"Sometimes I talk to my wife, sometimes I go to sleep in the other room because I change my position and my wife can't sleep. So I go there and watch TV until 3am in the morning with the feeling, 'Who is wrong? Is it me that was wrong or the players?' It is difficult.

"I never relax even if we win the game because I need to think, 'Okay, we won this game but for the next game they will play differently, they will play another system. We need to be in training tomorrow - who is injured and who is not?' I am thinking every day about the next day. It's difficult for the coach when you have so much competition."

Chelsea need to beat Cluj to guarantee their place in the next round of Europe's premier club competition and Scolari is still angry that it has gone to the final match having seen his side lose 3-1 at Roma and draw 1-1 at Bordeaux.

He added: "We had two games before this where we could qualify. If we had beaten Roma or Bordeaux we are in the second phase but we lost two opportunities.

"At Bordeaux we lost the chance in the last five minutes. It was a big lesson for us. It was the first time we lost a goal from a corner. We have scored many goals but this was a lesson.

"We need to think about what position is the best for us in games but we only need one victory against Cluj and we are there. It's not impossible, it's not difficult.

"Of course we understand that Cluj are a very good team and play very well but we have a fantastic chance."

At least Scolari's players fulfilled their duties at the Reebok Stadium. Chelsea produced a show of unity thanks to goals from Nicolas Anelka and Deco to overtake Tottenham's record of 10 straight top-tier away wins which they set 48 years ago.

No one talked louder than Michael Ballack, the German producing a dominant midfield performance before finishing the game baring scars of a brusing encounter and a bandage glued to his head. Laughing off rumours of dressing-room unrest, Ballack (left) insisted that Chelsea's astonishing away form can propel them to the title even though home failings have threatened to destroy their League dream.

"It's fantastic and keeps us in second place," said Ballack.

"That's important after we lost at home to Arsenal.

"Now we have to fight again for first place. We will do it and we're ready. We have shown this in the past.

"We will keep going. Christmas is a tough, tough period and we have experience and a strong squad. You can see this at the moment."