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Ricardo Carvalho says facing his former manager Jose Mourinho in the Champions League will feel “unnatural”.
Chelsea take on Mourinho's Inter Milan in the last 16 of the competition on Wednesday.
Carvalho played under Mourinho for five years at Porto and Chelsea before the 47-year-old left Stamford Bridge in September 2007.
The defender, who won the Champions League with Mourinho at Porto in 2004, said: “I haven't spoken to him [Jose] about the game at all. On one hand it's going to be funny and also a little strange.
"We both fought for the same goals for such a long time, now we're going to face each other in a competitive environment so that will feel a little unnatural.
“We both understand things have changed so it is only natural I will do my best for our team to win and he will do his best for his team to win.”
Chelsea face Wolves at Molineux tomorrow with just a one-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have led the title race for the majority of the campaign but a run of just one away win in their last six matches has allowed their rivals to close the gap.
There are just 12 games remaining and Carvalho believes Chelsea cannot afford to drop any more points. He added: “We know that for the last three months it's going to be important to get all three points in every game.
“To be champions, a draw is not good enough —three points is the only way to make sure you are clear at the top. The problem is that everyone knows how important the big games coming up for us are.”
Chelsea will be without Deco (knee), Juliano Belletti (knee) and Ashley Cole (ankle) tomorrow but John Terry will return to the starting line-up after missing the FA Cup win over Cardiff.
