Ruthless Scolari ready to wield axe

Behind the smile and the self-deprecating comments is a man determined to succeed at Chelsea and that means making changes to the squad.

In front of the television cameras yesterday he was keen to point out that it was too early for him to know who needed to be sold and who he wanted to buy.

But the Brazilian has already got a plan in mind and for a few Chelsea players, their time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end.

Not that it will come as a shock to them as during the first day of training on Monday, he warned them that some will be heading for the exit. Conversely, the news would have been welcomed by the youth talent at the club as he made a commitment to give them a chance next season.

Speaking away from the spotlight of the broadcast media, he revealed: "Now is the time to change the place. I want to work with 23, 24, maximum 25 players because I want to bring some young players from the Under 17's and Under 19's for some games.

"I am the coach who helps young players. I put many young players in clubs where I was coach. You just have to ask Palmeiras and they are all playing in Europe now.

"We have some young players who next season will play important games. If I have 30 players I can't do this and the players know what I think.

"I said this in front of the players when I spoke to them on Monday. I said a maximum of 25 will stay with me and after this it's not my business any more. Contracts, changing clubs, is for the players.

"I control what happens. I have two new signings now and I want to work with 24, 25, so four or five or six players need to leave. If one more arrives another needs to go." While Scolari's comments may be good news for the likes of Scott Sinclair and Michael Mancienne, a few senior players will have already started looking anxiously over their shoulders.

The identities of most of the players on the edge are pretty obvious - they are the ones who made a minimal impact last season.

For example midfielder Steve Sidwell, who has been strongly linked with a £5million move to Aston Villa as well as Newcastle, spent most of the last campaign watching from the sidelines having joined on a free transfer from Reading.

His chances of more first team football this time around have been further diminished with the arrival of Deco from Barcelona.

It seems only a matter of time before he moves on to pastures new, as will another of Chelsea's free transfers from last summer.

Claudio Pizarro's miserable goal-scoring record of just two in the Premier League, both against relegated Birmingham, is not good enough to justify a place in the squad.

The Peru international ended the season playing in a reserve game and a return to Germany, having originally joined from Bayern Munich, is on the cards.

Winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has been advised by his father, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, to leave SW6 anyway after another season spent in and out of the first team.

He has lost his place in the England team, has just two years left on his contract and Portsmouth are hoping the lure of a regular starting place will convince him to join in a £10m deal.

Defender Tal Ben Haim is also likely to move on and Khalid Boulahrouz is up for transfer following his loan at Sevilla, while recent speculation has suggested veteran midfielder Claude Makelele could join Paris St Germain.

Florent Malouda is vulnerable after he failed to justify the £13.5m fee Chelsea paid Lyon for him 12 months ago, while the future of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba is still in doubt despite Scolari's comments to the contrary.

One of the most expected departures could actually receive a surprise stay of execution as Scolari insists he is prepared to give £30.8m Andriy Shevchenko a chance to impress.

The Ukrainian international has been dogged by lack of form and injury problems since he left AC Milan in 2006.

But Scolari added: "In 12 games last season he scored eight goals. He is a player for Chelsea. If I saw him training and I believe in him, I will put him on the field, if not I put on another player."

One area that doesn't seem overcrowded just yet is Scolari's backroom team and there could be room for another new signing in the form of trusted sport psychologist Regina Brandao, who has worked with the Brazilian since 1998.

Chelsea may still have a few mental scars from last season's failure to win a trophy for the first time since 2004 and the 59-year-old believes Brandao can make a difference.

"Yes, I will continue my work with her," said Scolari. "Some people already work in this area at Chelsea, but when Reggina is free I will invite her to come to visit and talk with the players. Maybe we will start a good relationship between two good psychologists."

She may come too late, however, to heal the bruised egos of the ones not chosen to be part of Scolari's revolution in south west London.