Scolari clueless after Chelsea capitulation
Simon Johnson12 Jan 2009
Luiz Felipe Scolari is under increasing pressure after admitting Chelsea aren't playing well enough to win any trophies this season and that he doesn't know what to do about it
The Blues' 3-0 capitulation to a dominant Manchester United was their first away defeat in the Premier League for 13 months and their heaviest for nearly three years.
Scolari's side have now picked up just 10 points from their last eight League games and have gone from favourites at the start of the season to outsiders to win the title.
The Brazilian, who signed a two-year contract last summer, has already come under fire from fans following the Carling Cup exit to Burnley and the ignominy of being held to a draw at home by Southend in the FA Cup.
After the game, Scolari, remarkably claimed he has no idea how to turn the team's form around.
Scolari said: “We are not playing well at the moment to win any competition.
“In the last five games we have not played very well.
“Some games you don't score but create many chances but we are not playing well like we did before.
“I don't know how to change it. I need to think after tomorrow. I have two ways. I can play the same players and look for an improvement in them or I can change some players.
“I don't know what has happened. I need to think. I need to look at some set- plays. I need to show the players many things and afterwards I decide.
“Manchester United were better than us. I think it's done some very big damage [to their title hopes] because we didn't come here to play like this. We need to be men and improve. We cannot afford to think we have lost everything.
“I am not someone who thinks like this and I don't think my players are either.”
Chelsea's poor form is sure to alarm owner Roman Abramovich, who sacked Avram Grant for failing to win a trophy last season.
However, striker Nicolas Anelka insists it is too early to panic with the club still in three competitions.
He said: “The fans have been frustrated by our recent results, which is logical to me. As far as the players are concerned, we have not been happy with some of our games. The positive point is that we are still on course for the Treble. We understand it's going to be massively tough, but everything is possible.”
Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs believes his side's victory has given them a massive boost in their bid to win the title for a third straight year.
They trail leaders Liverpool by five points but will go top if they win at home to Wigan on Wednesday and at Bolton on Saturday.
Giggs said: “It gives us confidence because we'd had one point out of the previous three meetings against the top sides, so we've got them all at home now and we've got to make the most of it.''
Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, has made a fresh attack on United with a swipe at the club's chief executive David Gill.
Last week Liverpool's boss claimed United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson gets away with criticising referees and rubbished his complaints about the fixture list. He has followed that up with comments about Gill, who is on the Football Association's board.
Benitez said: “They were saying we are a threat. Now they know we are, they are playing mind games.
“It's not a mind game when you have control over everything; it's a mind game when you have the same level as the other people, then you can show you are cleverer than the others. But when you have control of everything and your chief executive is powerful in the FA, then that is not mind games.
“Is there a conflict of interest with David Gill at the FA? It is a fact that one person has a lot of power and control, and is on a lot of committees in the FA. To me that is very strange.”
Reader views (2)
We have top international players but many of them look past their best. Scolari can't be a bad manager but when real triers like Joe Cole seem subdued then the dressing room is not right. we are playing with fear,more like relegation candidates. Scolari will get the boot but Abromovich needs to look at the likes of Kenyon who is as much to blame for our failure to attract exciting younger players. These same players managed to perform when we had a puppet in charge. For me it has all gone wrong since Steve Clarke left. He was the reason we carried on challenging last year. Scolari should be given a month but we might end up mid table. Be brave bring back Clarke as manager,
- Bob, London, 12/01/2009 18:18
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IF SCOLARI HAS ANY HONOUR HE SHOULD RESIGN AND GO HOME - FOR GOOD.
- Kypros Shacolas, Nicosia, Cyprus, 12/01/2009 12:00
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