The two teams line up alongside in the tunnel. Jose Mourinho pops up and starts looking around for somebody or something?

"Where's JT?"

"You didn't pick him boss?"

Chelsea fans will know all about Mourinho's opposite number tonight. That's because Slavisa Jokanovic used to be one of their own.

He played for the club between 2000 and 2002, and he's lucky forward to seeing some old friends.

"It's a nice moment for me, back at a place that was my home many years ago," said Jokanovic., external "I was also here [as Watford manager] at the beginning of the year for an FA Cup game. I have great memories of the past season here in England but now I am focused on what is in front of me."

Kenwyne Jones, Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton were all on target on the only previous occasion Maccabi Tel Aviv were in England. Stoke won 3-0 that night - Chelsea will surely take a repeat of that tonight? 

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"Chelsea have got one or two problems in midfield. Fabregas has not looked anywhere as near as good as last season. He can't get on the ball, is not getting far enough up the pitch and is being closed down far too quickly.

"This has been a problem because he was so creative last season."

 Commentary of Chelsea v Maccabi Tel Aviv is live on BBC 5 live.  

You know when you ask somebody if they're OK and they say they're fine. A couple of times, just to reinforce the point. That's when you know they ain't fine, right?

Mourinho was asked how he's doing this week. His reply? "I am fine. I promise you, I'm fine. I'm not happy, I'm not used to losing so many times, but I'm adapting. I'm not adapting to losing, but to the situation – the challenge – to have to improve."

That's all you can ask. As long as he's adapting.

There's been plenty of Chelsea stories in the papers over the last few days, but did you see the one about a banter ban?

Apparently, the jokes have stopped at training as the club tries to get their season back on track.

Imagine Gazza, Bestie and Vinnie Jones having to work under such conditions...

Chelsea
Chelsea

It is fair to say things haven't been great for Diego Costa this season...

The Chelsea striker scored seven goals in his first five league games of last season but has managed just one in the same number of matches so far during the current campaign.

The graphic below shows the amount of shots he has had in the last two matches - both defeats. Not many is the answer...

Image source, Opta

You can listen to all the build-up and commentary from Chelsea, plus updates from Arsenal's trip to Zagreb, by clicking on the audio icon on this page.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho on BT Sport: "The fans are waiting for a home win but it is the same for me and the players. We are frustrated, we are not happy, we are not getting what we deserve. Hopefully we can feel the happiness of victory and try to start from here. 

"I have both eyes on this game. I told the players I don't want to think about Everton or Arsenal. I am not trying to punish anyone, I try to give people an opportunity which is what they are working hard to have.

"Loftus-Cheek is a player with great potential. This is a process with us, he has been in it since the middle of last season. We want to win the game and hopefully he can help us do that. 

"My critics... I don't care. With my history and the critics, imagine the other ones who have no history."

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Arsenal are without Jack Wilshere tonight, after the midfielder was ruled out for three months because he needs surgery on a broken leg.

Will Wilshere ever get over his injury problems? I heard a stat that the 23-year-old has spent two full seasons of his career in the physio's room. Growing pains? Down to the way he plays?

"I am not a specialist, but I think this was just an accident which was not linked with his ankles," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. "We are still at the start of the season. We are now mid-September, so after three months - mid-December - he can be back. There is still a long way to play after." 

We are asking why an English team will win the Champions League this season: 

Tweet us using #bbcfootball,, external send a text to 81111 or post to the BBC Sport Match of the Day page., external

This tweet is so good, it gets a showing on its own. Well done, Kumar.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"Hazard was the best player in the country last season, but only until six games before the end of the season. Since then he has looked unrecognisable and if he is not creating chances and Fabregas is not creating them, Costa is not going to score goals.

"I think the answer is closing down further up the field. They can't do that with Hazard but I think they can with Oscar.

"I think Oscar might be the most important player over the next few games." 

Chelsea fans hope you are right, Oscar....

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"Chelsea's biggest problem defensively is probably just one player - Branislav Ivanovic. 

"Ivanovic has been targeted by the teams he has been playing against and so far this season he has been found wanting."

We are asking why an English team will win the Champions League this season: 

Nick Preece:  An English team WILL win the #UCL, external because if djimi traore can win one anyone can!!

Panglossian:  English team will win champions league because they have spent more in the Transfer window

Jacob Stone:  Because of Ozil and Sanchez.

Tweet us using #bbcfootball,, external send a text to 81111 or post to the BBC Sport Match of the Day page., external

Chelsea
Chelsea

There is nothing like confidence and this is nothing like confidence...

Former Manchester United and Barcelona winger, and now Sporting Director at Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jordi Cruyff, has told BBC World Service that if all Chelsea’s “pieces come together,” his side have “almost no chance” this evening.

"In a way it's true the achievement is just to be here. Some teams do tend to underestimate us and underestimation is not a good friend to have," he said.

"But the facts are there in football, these days it's getting harder and harder to beat so called small teams from small leagues."

Image source, Getty Images