Scolari sets sights on loan cover for Essien

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The loss of Essien, who ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament playing for Ghana last week, is a huge blow to Scolari as he has no like-for-like understudy.

Although the transfer window is closed, the Brazilian has now had talks with chief executive Peter Kenyon over a loan signing or picking up a free agent.

Scolari said: "I have some idea about how to fill Michael's position and I told Peter Kenyon about them. He will try to do something today, tomorrow or next week."

Tomorrow Scolari takes his team to Manchester City and he has revealed he turned down the manager's job at Eastlands in the summer.

City, following their takeover by Abu Dhabi United Group, have replaced Chelsea as the richest club in the world but the 59-year-old insists he does not regret moving to Stamford Bridge.

"Before I came to Chelsea I listened to some ideas about City," said Scolari.

"They came to Portugal when I was still the national team coach there and they told me their ideas for the next three or four years. They offered me a great situation but I needed time to think about it.

"What is going on there now is fantastic but they need results and to win games. You're not the best club just because you buy one or two players. You need to play and you need to win.

"This is not a project for just one or two years, it's one for 15 years.

"I came to Chelsea not because they were the richest club in the world at the time but because they offered me a job and a fantastic one.

"I didn't think about which one was the richest. If it was Manchester City or AC Milan it makes no difference to me. I only want the players I have at Chelsea. I don't have an extra incentive to beat Manchester City."

The new owners at City signalled their intent by gazumping Chelsea's bid for Robinho on the last day of the transfer window by signing him in a British record £32.5million deal from Real Madrid.

Scolari insists he has not made any special plans to deal with the player who snubbed him.

He said: "I am not worried about facing Robinho. I have said he's a very good player but he is just another opponent we have to face in City's team."