With Luiz Felipe Scolari, Chelsea were guaranteed to win the Premiership. If they could push United until the final day of the season with that gimp Avram Grant in charge, then they would certainly take it up a gear under Scolari’s leadership, right?
So far, I’ve been fairly impressed with Scolari, with him coming across far better than the likes of Arsene Wenger or Rafael Benitez. He seems fairly laid back and is reluctant to dive in to the mind games other managers in the top four enjoy.
However, apart from leaving questions over whether Peter Kenyon is screwing Didier Drogba, the striking differences between him and Sir Alex Ferguson became apparent in Scolari’s dealings with the Ivorian striker.
Reports emerged this week linking Didier Drogba with a move to Inter Milan to join former manager, Jose Mourinho.
“I don’t have anything to say,” Drogba said in response to questions about the link. “I am upset about the reaction on my comeback game, I made an error.”
So what did Scolari have to say about it?
“We are coming into December, then Christmas – and Christmas is for agents, the time when they open their mouths for the world and say ‘we know this team or that team wants a player`,” he said. “Now is their month. Maybe you will read about 15 players coming to Chelsea from outside and 15 leaving. But I don’t sleep with him, sure. Where he was, I don’t know. I’m not a policeman for the players. Do not ask me. Ask Peter Kenyon, ask Roman Abramovich. I don’t know I’m only the coach.”
Chelsea have won 71% of the games where Drogba has been playing, just 59% without him, yet Scolari doesn’t seem to care where this player was or what he was doing.
Can you imagine when over the summer Ferguson was asked about Ronaldo, him replying, “ask David Gill, ask the Glazers, what do I know? I’m just the coach.”
Scolari’s comments seem to suggest what most of us have thought anyway, that he sees his time with the rent boys as entirely transient. It also seems to confirm the problems that both Mourinho and Grant had, being that the manager will never be top dog at that club. Abramovich is the organ grinder, the manager will always only be the monkey.
Ferguson started his career nine years before Scolari, yet has has had fifteen fewer managerial posts than Big Phil. The five years Scolari spent with Portugal was the longest job of his career, and other than three year stretches with Palmeiras and Gremio, he has spent up to a year or two in charge of every other club.
It appears as though he is anticipating the same with Chelsea, so it would be best not to get too attached.
Man Utd News 24/7
I think that you are entirely correct in that statement in the final paragraph: “he sees his time with the rent boys as entirely transient.”
Does that make BigPhil just another “rent boy” ?
Ferguson started his career nine years before Scolari, yet has has had fifteen fewer managerial posts than Sir Alex.
u mean less than Scolari Scott
very apt article…
Manc Scott does actually say “fifteen fewer posts than Big Phil”
May just be tongue in cheek but he has said if they don’t qualify for last sixteen he may as well go back to Brazil. Are cracks starting to appear at Rent boys?
If Scolari leaves in 2-3 years time say, then that means that Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea will ALL be looking for new managers around 2010-2011. Assuming Livershite fail to follow up their early promise of this season, Benitez’s head could also be on the block – meaning we could well see a totally different managerial roll call of the Big 4 clubs!
I certainly hope a British manager can get a shot at managing one of the Big 4 clubs in that circumstance!
Dreading the day SAF retires
Interesting article.
Considering, as you say, “It also seems to confirm the problems that both Mourinho and Grant had, being that the manager will never be top dog at that club. Abramovich is the organ grinder, the manager will always only be the monkey” I think we should be a bit more grateful to the Glazers. There are benefits to their apparent disinterest!
Fucking hell Scotty …did my eyes deceive me …what a fucking hoot…Cunt Kenyon up to his nuts in Drogba’s arse…..oh please please let it be true….Fucking hell me sides are busting hahahahahahah oh Didier every time you bang one in, so will I …..hahahahahahahah…. Failsworth mate got any painkiller left, my ribs are killing me from laughing…..lolololol
What happens IF the RentBoyz fail to qualify for the knock=out stages of the CL ? Will Scolari walk away – or be pushed ? Admittedly, it’s a reach since they are playing Cluj but there is a possibility that another draw with that team would be the start for a soap opera of incredible interest.
I find myself in a horrible emotional turmoil at the moment!! Much as I dream about Scolari making a total cock-up and Chelski winning sod-all again, what if we allow the dippers to get so far in front we can’t catch them! I think I’d rather the renters win it than those rat-eating scum bags
just another dog for chelsea.
I seem to remember a quote by Scolari in the summer in which he said something akin to ‘I have never had a big salary, how could I refuse that much money?’ when speaking about his acceptance of the Chelsea job…says it all really, another Chelsea mercenary who would up and leave at the prospect of a bigger wage packet and that’s why their horrible little club has no soul…just a turncoat, paedophile look-a-like for a chairman…
Quality article mate.. .enjoyed that read.