All season long, Stamford Bridge has hosted a team struggling to come to terms with their disappointing position in the table.

The supporters’ patience has been tested by a side in transition who are still trying to blend a new set of young talent together.

The coach, brought in only last November, is under huge pressure as fans and media pick over his every decision to see whether he is having the desired effect.

Next Monday, though, it won’t be Rafael Benitez or Chelsea in the spotlight, but Luiz Felipe Scolari and his Brazil team who take on Russia in a friendly at the home of Chelsea.

Brazil host the World Cup in just over a year and expectation, for a country that have triumphed a record five times, is understandably high.

The nation have been dreaming about claiming the trophy on their own soil ever since Brazil were awarded the honour of staging the competition by Fifa in 2007.

However, the team have been underperforming for some time and lost their last friendly 2-1 to England at Wembley — their first defeat against the Three Lions for 23 years.

Such is the manner of their decline that Brazil are now a lowly 18th in Fifa’s world rankings, 15 places below fierce rivals Argentina and trailing countries like Greece, Switzerland and Ecuador.

It is not something that sits well with anyone associated with the team, as Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Ramires admitted in an exclusive interview with Standard Sport.

He said: “It is a bit strange to see Brazil in 18th. Everyone is used to seeing Brazil in the top three or so, but we’re a team getting renewed.

“We lost a lot of players and haven’t won a lot of competitions recently, so it’s not a surprise that we have fallen. But we are working hard and want to put Brazil back in the higher positions.

“Obviously the team have been going through a difficult time because the team are getting renovated. It’s a new period for this squad. We need time to get this team to gel together for the World Cup.

“We know we don’t have that much time now so we’re trying to cut things short so we’re strong. As hosts, we’re not playing qualifying games but we look at the friendlies against teams like Russia as qualifying matches.

“We want to be prepared for the World Cup and after that we will take more consideration of where we are in the rankings.”

Just as Chelsea decided to change coach four months ago when results were going awry, Brazil replaced Mano Menzes with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who oversaw their last triumph in Japan and South Korea in 2002, in the hope he could inspire an improvement.

Scolari’s reputation in England may have suffered after a disastrous spell in charge of Chelsea — which lasted just seven months — but he is still revered in Brazil.

Perhaps more importantly, he has the total respect and admiration of the players he is now working with.

Ramires said: “He is a great coach, a winning coach. A lot of the squad were very young and were watching when he led Brazil to the fifth World Cup and, yes, we hope his experience can help bring us similar success.

“There is a lot of responsibility because if we win the World Cup for Brazil at home we will be marked forever as part of the team that brought joy to the nation. If we don’t, it could be a case of some players getting booed. We have to look at it as an exciting time but also one with great responsibility.

“I followed a lot of the games when Brazil won the World Cup with Scolari in charge. I was 15 and was understanding more about football then because I had begun playing in the soccer schools in my town.

“I have always heard great things about him and now I have had the pleasure of meeting him. He is a great person, a great manager.”

Scolari will have to be to get Brazil back to the very top of the world game and fortune is not on his side at the moment.

Brazil play Italy in Geneva on Thursday before travelling to London to take on Russia. However, he could be without some key players.

Ramires is struggling with a thigh problem and is already out of the Italy clash, while Chelsea team-mate David Luiz and Diego Costa are also trying to recover from knocks and Paulinho has withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

Still, the success of the team is not Brazil’s only concern with a profusion of negative stories about whether all the stadiums and infrastructure being specially built for the tournament will be finished on schedule.

Ramires certainly hopes that the country can put on a competition to be proud of and said: “In that sense, I’m like a supporter. I hope it all gets ready on time.

“We want to give a good impression of our nation. It’s obviously tradition for many countries to host it and we don’t want it to be different [for the wrong reasons] in Brazil. I hope everything goes well and to plan.

“Everyone back home is motivated, talking about it and is living the World Cup already. They can’t wait for it to arrive.

“It has been a long time since the World Cup has been to Brazil [1950] and it’s good for the new generation to see the event and be inspired.

“To see the different nations and top players in our country will be fantastic.”

Still, Brazilians will only be truly happy if they see their team on top of the world once again.

RAMIRES ON SCOLARI

Ramires has urged Chelsea fans to give Luiz Felipe Scolari a great reception on his return to Stamford Bridge next Monday.

It will be the first time Scolari has been to Chelsea since he was fired in February 2009 after a poor run of form and Ramires said: “I was surprised it didn’t work out for him at Chelsea.

“It was a premature departure after a few games. This is going to be different for him, he is returning as Brazil coach and I hope the Chelsea fans will welcome him. I’m sure Scolari still loves the Chelsea crowd. I’m hoping they will be there to support him as well.”

RAMIRES ON ENGLAND

Ramires insists England can win the World Cup — if they qualify from Group H. The Chelsea midfielder was in the Brazil side that lost 2-1 to England last month with Blues team-mate Frank Lampard scoring the winner.

England are only second in Group H and play San Marino on Friday before a key match at leaders Montenegro next Tuesday.

Ramires said: “The way I see it, once you qualify, every team has a chance to win. Every team arrives with that mentality. England are no different. They have a great team, big names, great players. Their prospects look good because they have a good side.”

Watch Brazil play Russia on Monday March 25th at Stamford Bridge. Tickets are on sale at the stadium box office, by calling 0871 984 1905 or going to chelseafc.com/tickets. Prices start from £25 for adults and £12.50 for juniors and seniors.