Scolari can bring sexy football back to Bridge - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Scolari can bring sexy football back to Bridge

Chelsea's hierarchy have every right to feel excited about the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari, but the fans have most to look forward to with "sexy football" set to return to Stamford Bridge.

There has been a lot of talk over the last couple of years about how owner Roman Abramovich wants a more attacking style and he should get his wish with the Brazilian as manager.

Under Jose Mourinho, Chelsea won trophies, but the fans may not have been 100 per cent happy with the football they played. Well, they have a man now who could bring both, just like Ruud Gullit, one of the the coaches I played under at the club, did.

When we played under Ruud it was a "sexy football" doctrine, even in training, and I think we could see a return to those days.

We have seen with Brazil and Portugal that Scolari he likes his sides to attack and play with flair. As a result, I think this appointment will go down very well with the players.

I know what they have been going through the last few weeks, having been at Chelsea when Glenn Hoddle left in 1996 to take over at England.

I was happy when Ruud got the job because of his stature as a player.

I remember we all wanted to impress him straight away, even though he had seen what we could do already as a member of the squad. The fans have obviously been watching the situation closely and have been desperate for a good appointment.

It was the same story 12 years ago and they had a chance to voice their opinion to chairman Ken Bates, who had been strongly linked with George Graham.

I remember in the final home game of the season the fans started chanting against Graham and in favour of Ruud.

They got what they wanted and, while they haven't had any say this time, I think they will be just as happy.

It feels like a return to the Mourinho days in terms of having someone who is forthright, single-minded and the potential to be controversial.

I don't how good his English is, but it is very important the supporters get to hear what he has to say from his own mouth. One of the reasons Mourinho was so popular is that he always said what he thought in English rather than through an interpreter.

This could see the biggest period of change at the club since Jose first took over. What Chelsea achieved last season was done with his team and while not too much tinkering needs to be done, Scolari will want to make it his side.

He will be under no illusion that he has to win trophies. He has seen what happened to Avram Grant despite coming so close to picking up the two biggest prizes. The pressure is on and we will have to see how he reacts.

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