Image source, AP

So what does Diego Simeone think of Chelsea's stifling tactics against top opposition? Well, he agrees with The Special One that winning is the only thing which matters.

"I'm a football man, I respect different ways of setting out your team," Simeone said. "You can play 10 at the back or you can play 10 at the front. It doesn't matter. What matters is the result.

"To defend well is not easy, so you have to congratulate a team that defends well. It's important that, regardless of how you play, the team wins, that the club wins, that the institution as a whole wins. There is not one way of playing football. If we all played the same way it would be very boring."

Steven Jerjian:, external If the Champions League 'owes' Terry, then the Premier League 'owes' Gerrard. Neither is true.

BBC Radio 5 live

Tactics expert Michael Cox: "I think it's difficult to see anything different to last week. Because both managers know the other wants to counter-attack, I don't think either will concede any space behind their defence."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, speaking to Sky Sports: "Because we lost Lampard and Mikel, we don't have the players who give us stability in midfield, and I need to make a compact team. When we don't have the ball we have to defend, when we have the ball we have to try to score. Atletico have had five clean sheets in their last five games. We are not going to score lots of goals against them so we have to try not to concede. After one hour if it is still 0-0 I would be happy, but we are not playing for a 0-0, we will try to score."

Mark Schwarzer, at 41 years and 198 days, will tonight become the oldest player to feature in the knockout stages of the Champions League. A frightening stat for you is that when the Australian started his career for the wonderfully-named Marconi Stallions in 1990, Thibaut Courtois had not been born!

Poor Thibaut, therefore, missed out on Nessun Dorma, Italia 90, John Barnes's rap and Gazza's tears. Proper nostalgia.

Prajjwal Panday:, external Of course Champions League owes something to Terry. Very few can be all three - Captain, Leader, and Legend.

So Jose's a scamp... we already knew that, but is there a method behind all of his madness? I think there is - take tonight, for example. His players are preparing for the biggest game of the season and we're all sat here talking about Mourinho. And let's be honest, it would be dull without him.

"Football is full of philosophers, people who understand much more than me," said Mourinho, in response to his latest critics. "But the reality is the reality. A team that doesn't defend well doesn't have many chances to win."

Jamie from Lincoln: I support Arsenal and I want Chelsea to go through. Where's the support for English football?

A little reminder that BBC Radio 5 live's build-up is just starting. Last night they had former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon on the show, and he wasn't very complimentary about the club's former manager: a certain Mr J Mourinho.

"Jose Mourinho, in my opinion, wasn't the right man for a club like Real," said Calderon. "At Real, we have some codes of behaviour. A lot of people didn't like the way he behaved."

Those comments could add extra heat to the final if Chelsea were to meet Real Madrid in Lisbon.

James Butler:, external That Chelsea team is unbelievable. Mourinho will look a fool if it doesn't work. Going to be a very interesting game.

Mitesh Chavda:, external Would have been easier to say Chelsea starting with 11 buses. Poor Torres will remain invisible.

BBC Sport's Ben Smith at Stamford Bridge

"Jose Mourinho isn't one to linger in the shadows and he will, once again, take centre stage this evening. He has made no secret of his desire to become the first manager to win three European Cups with three different clubs. This is his eighth Champions League semi-final tie in 10 working seasons as a manager, and he has reached this stage in each of the past five seasons. And yet he only got to the final twice, winning it on both occasions. Chelsea have also stumbled too often at this point in the past. Both manager and club will want to make sure they don't this evening."

Chelsea: Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Luiz, Willian, Azpilicueta, Hazard, Torres. Subs: Hilario, Oscar, Schurrle, van Ginkel, Ba, Eto'o, Kalas.

Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Luis, Koke, Tiago, Mario Suarez, Turan, Diego Costa, Adrian. Subs: Aranzubia, Raul Garcia, Villa, Rodriguez, Alderweireld, Sosa, Diego.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

Chelsea line up with what looks to be a back five as Ashley Cole keeps his place following an impressive display against Liverpool and Branislav Ivanovic joins John Terry and Gary Cahill in central defence. Eden Hazard returns from a calf injury to provide the creative spark in front of defensive midfielders David Luiz and Ramires. Fernando Torres gets the nod up front with Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o on the bench.

Thibaut Courtois starts in goal for Atletico Madrid against his parent club, while Chelsea target Diego Costa represents the greatest threat to the Blues' chances of reaching the final.

Scott Lennon:, external If there's any fairness in football at all, Atletico will go through. No-one except Chelsea fans want to see Chelsea in the final.

Image source, AP

There are a couple of things to tell you about before we build up to tonight's action at Stamford Bridge - namely that England coach Roy Hodgson will announce his squad for this summer's World Cup in Brazil on Monday, 12 May.

However, one man who won't be on the plane is Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, who has been ruled out for up to 10 weeks with an ankle injury. A crushing blow for a man who did as much as anyone to get the side over the line in qualifying.

Image source, PA

So John Terry starts for Chelsea tonight in a competition which "owes him something" -, external according to Jose Mourinho at least. JT missed a spot-kick in the 2008 final and was absent from the victory in 2012 because of suspension. But, really... does the greatest club football competition in the world owe John Terry anything? Also, what does everyone think of Jose's latest retort to his critics? Are you bored of the Chelsea boss, or does he light up the Premier League?

You can join in tonight via #bbcfootball on Twitter,, external send a text to 81111, post to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or pop on over to Google+., external We're not accepting carrier pigeons tonight though.

Chelsea's starting line-up is out, and John Terry starts in what looks like a three-man defence with two wing-backs. Ashley Cole, David Luiz, Fernando Torres and Eden Hazard all start. We'll bring you the full line-ups for both teams shortly.

Chelsea starting XI: Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Cole, Ramires, David Luiz, Azpilicueta, Hazard, Willian, Torres

BBC Sport's Ben Smith at Stamford Bridge

"You can already feel the anticipation in the streets around Stamford Bridge. It is a glorious evening in this corner of west London, shirt sleeves are the order of the day, the ale is flowing freely and there is a belief among Chelsea fans that they can reach a third Champions League final in six years tonight. No-one expects this to be anything but a tense, perhaps turgid, affair. Atletico Madrid have not conceded a goal since 1 April, Chelsea have the best defensive record in the Premier League. But I don't get the impression the fans care how they win. Just that they do."

BBC Radio 5 live

How are you following tonight's game? If you're out and about, you can follow the action via this live text or listen to full-match commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, which is now available online or through your BBC Sport smart phone app. Mike Ingham, Alan Green and Robbie Savage are tonight's commentary team, with Zonal Marking's Michael Cox offering additional tactical insight.

Amid all the verbal jousting and mind games, however, Jose Mourinho knows he is just two victories from becoming one of the most successful managers of all time. If The Special One can somehow steer Chelsea to Champions League glory this season, he will equal Bob Paisley's record of winning three European Cups. Maybe then his tactics will get the credit he feels they deserve? Maybe not?