Chelsea keeper Cech welcomes Scolari to Stamford Bridge with open arms

The Portugal boss was named as the new Stamford Bridge chief on Wednesday, and will officially start his £6million-a-year job from July 1.  

The Brazilian will join Chelsea with a history of success at international level. He led his nation to glory in the 2002 World Cup and guided Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. 

Come hither: Cech has become the latest Chelsea star to welcome the appointment of Scolari

Czech Republic international Cech was on the end of a beating from Scolari's side on Wednesday when they lost 3-1 to Portugal in Euro 2008.  

And the Chelsea keeper said: "He is a manager with great charisma, great experience, great results. I look forward to working with him."  

Former Chelsea players Nigel Spackman and Graeme Le Saux are also impressed with the choice of Scolari. 

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"It has been worth the wait, I think he's the right man to take Chelsea forward," said Spackman.

"The pressure will be on him to do well but he's had that pressure before and he's stood up to it.  

"I think it's a great signing. You only have to look back a couple of years and England wanted him."  

Former left-back Le Saux added: "It's an exciting appointment and a wonderful opportunity for the club to work with him, and a privilege for him to be working for Chelsea.  

"It is an opportunity for the club to continue its forward momentum over the last 10 years and he fits the credentials in every way - his status, his discipline, and if Chelsea want a particular player, with him as the figurehead, most players would want to play for him.  

"The players that are here will be excited about playing for him, and last season's disappointments will be a fast-fading memory when you start to work under somebody like that.  

"If you're playing for a manager like that and know you're one of his players and you're a part of his team, it's a privilege because he has as big a status as anybody else - it's an exciting prospect."  

Another former Blue, Colin Lee, thinks the players will respond to Scolari's approach as they did under Jose Mourinho.  

"I would think he will be hands on like Mourinho was, and I think the players will respond to that," said Lee.  

"Sometimes it's very difficult to judge a person unless you work with them but the impression you get from the new manager is that he's a very passionate person who wants his players to show that same passion. 

"He's got masses of experience and you would imagine that he's got a tremendous knowledge of players worldwide so that can only be good for Chelsea. For the club to progress further, I think it's a wise appointment."