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Scolari rues missing 'special' player at Chelsea

Source: Agencies | February 14, 2009, Saturday | Print Edition

CHELSEA lacks the special player who would have made the difference, sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has told the France Football magazine.

The Brazilian gave the interview four days before he was sacked on Monday after just seven months in charge, in the wake of the Premier League side's poor run of form.

"At Chelsea, we don't have a player who can make the difference by himself and do something magical on the pitch," Scolari said. "Robinho would have been that player. He is not afraid to dribble, to take risks," he said, referring to the Brazil and Manchester City striker. "It (Chelsea) is a bureaucratic side. That is the style of my players. That is why Robinho would have done a lot of good to us."

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba had been that player at Chelsea before this season, but Scolari dismissed the idea he could have been very influential this term.

"With my squad, it is very difficult to play with Drogba," he said. "With Drogba and (Nicolas) Anelka up front, who would play on the wings? And in the middle? So I must choose between Drogba and Anelka. Drogba lacks confidence at the moment. After two or three big injuries, he is still missing something.

"For the moment, he is still under par."

Scolari, who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil before moving to Europe, said he missed the special relationship he had with the Portugal players when he was their national coach.

"On the pitch, the relationships with my players are good. But it is true they are not the ones I had with the Portugal team. I spent five years over there.

"In Brazil, it is also more simple. I knew everything about my players," he said. "Here, I don't have a family relation. Everything is on the pitch. Off the pitch, there is nothing."

Scolari, who has been replaced by Guus Hiddink, also hinted Chelsea captain John Terry was a bit short of support within the squad.

"I was supportive of him, of course," he said. "And I am sure two or three other players could say the same."

Meanwhile, Hiddink said he was excited at the prospect of managing a club challenging for three major trophies.

"The team are in several races, the FA Cup is there, the Champions League and also the League...," he told Chelsea TV. "All three roads are very important. The next game at Watford, and then Aston Villa and Juventus and then you go on the path of the Champions League. That is so attractive. The club has the experience to go to the (Champions League) final."

Hiddink, who has agreed a deal at Chelsea until the end of the season while remaining in charge of Russia, met the players for the first time on Thursday at a training session in Cobham where he was also greeted by club owner Roman Abramovich.

"They are very committed. I have seen the training session, but sometimes you can have a little bit (of a) different approach to get even more efficiency out of the players," said the 62-year-old Dutchman.
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