Scolari will need to stop Ronaldo from taking his side apart at Old Trafford tomorrow but the Brazilian coach is adamant that Chelsea have players who can match the skills of the United superstar.

Scolari managed Ronaldo when he was in charge of the Portugal national team and defenders Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira have all played alongside the United trickster as well as midfielder Deco.

Ronaldo, who is set to collect the 'World Player of the Year' award next week, is expected to play against the Blues despite writing off his Ferrari sports car in an accident on Thursday.

But while Scolari accepts that Ronaldo will be United's main threat, he believes Chelsea possess players of a similar match-winning calibre.

"Ronaldo is a player that can change the game," said Scolari. "When you expect him to dribble left he dribbles right, when you expect him to shoot left he shoots right.

"He jumps very well and is a very intelligent player. He can change the game. For me last season he was the best in the world, for sure. This season maybe some other players are in a better condition.

"I have players who do not have Ronaldo's characteristics, but I have players who have fantasy. They cross very well, pass very well and dribble, but Ronaldo is a different player with a different style.

"We do not have players here with the same style, but we have some players as good as Ronaldo. Maybe this season a Chelsea player will be in the top five players in the world."

He added: "United have a good balance. They choose their players very well and have a good balance. I prepare the same for every game, whether it's the World Cup final or with Chelsea. I prepare my team the same the every game - Southend, Burnley, Manchester United and Arsenal. For me it's the same - it's three points. It's no different."

Having managed just 10 points from the club's past seven league games, Scolari knows the Blues must get something from their trip to Old Trafford.

Bosingwa knows all about Ronaldo's sensational ability from his time in the national team but he also played alongside United's Anderson and Nani for a short period at Porto.

"I know Ronaldo well, he is my friend who I play with him in the national team, and I see Cristiano, Nani and Anderson who I played with in Portugal too while at Porto," said Bosingwa.

"In the world, at this moment, it is between Cristiano and Lionel Messi for me. He is an intelligent player and fast, a very good player to have on your team.

"It is very important because we need to win this game, we need three points at the moment, and this is always an important game in the season, like a 'derby'.

"When Chelsea play, we play to win the game, but if we draw away in Manchester it is not bad.

"It is a good game to play in, and is a good motivation for all the players. It is maybe the biggest in England, and we have similar in Portugal, with Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon, those three teams are the best in Portugal."