The relationship between Mourinho and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been in the spotlight since a difference of opinion over the need for reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Mourinho told reporters following Saturday's vital late win at Watford he had not spoken to Abramovich after the final whistle, while British media made much of pictures at Vicarage Road of Abramovich talking with the club's top officials at the end of the game.

Dutchman Guus Hiddink has repeatedly been linked with the club in a senior coaching capacity for next season should Mourinho no longer be in charge.

That speculation will not help a side who were well below par in Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory, their winner arriving from Salomon Kalou in stoppage time, and who have been hit hard by injuries.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben is out for four weeks with a knee injury, while the return to training on Sunday of winger Joe Cole and left back Wayne Bridge after injury means a late cameo appearance at best in Wednesday's first leg.

Cole, out since late November with a stress fracture of his foot, made clear his desire to play after coming through another training session on Monday.

Midfielder-turned-defender Lassana Diarra, who missed the Watford trip with a shoulder injury, should be fit and Chelsea can point to having won their last four Champions League games at home.

VILLA'S HOPES

Aware of their opponents' form, Valencia's Spain striker David Villa told Canal Plus television: "We know Chelsea aren't playing that well and we hope they continue that way because at 100 percent they are a difficult team to beat."

Villa, linked by the British media with a move to Chelsea in January, was in fine form on Saturday, steering Valencia to a nervy 3-2 win at home over Espanyol that kept them in fourth place in the Primera Liga, six points off leaders Barcelona.

He scored his 11th league goal of the season and set up the other two for fit-again winger Vicente and Miguel Angel Angulo.

Striker Fernando Morientes, whose goals for Monaco helped send Chelsea packing from the Champions League semi-finals in 2004, is out with a shoulder injury picked up on international duty last week.

However, he is confident he will recover in time for the return leg. Midfielder Ruben Baraja is also injured.

Argentine centre-back Roberto Ayala will be able to play despite having stitches in his cheek for an elbow in the face against Espanyol.

Defenders David Navarro and Carlos Marchena are both suspended for their involvement in the brawl at the end of the home match against Inter Milan in the last round.

Probable teams

Chelsea: 1-Petr Cech; 19-Lassana Diarra, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 26-John Terry, 3-Ashley Cole; 12-John Obi Mikel, 4-Claude Makelele, 13-Michael Ballack, 8-Frank Lampard; 11-Didier Drogba, 7-Andriy Shevchenko

Valencia: 1-Santiago Canizares; 2-Miguel, 4-Roberto Ayala, 20-Raul Albiol, 24-Emiliano Moretti; 15-Joaquin, 6-David Albelda, 16-Hugo Viana, 21-David Silva; 10-Miguel Angel Angulo, 7-David Villa

Referee: Tom Henning Ovrebo (Norway)

(Additional reporting by Mark Elkington in Madrid)