Scolari Latest Press Conference

“Big Phil” has spoken ahead of the forthcoming season, commenting on aspects of his philosophy, player attitudes, other Premier League managers, Abramovich and the dreaded “P” word – penalty shootouts. So far Scolari seems very calm, relaxed and modest – we haven’t seen any flashes of his more volatile side, although that could change once the season gets going.

Chelsea disappointed against Lokomotiv in Russia after dominating the game albeit with poor finishing before succumbing once again to the dreaded penalties:

”Lokomotiv gave us one big lesson.  They had two shots in the second-half and scored a goal. We had three chances in front of goal and we didn't kill the opposing team.  They hit us. This is what I said to the players - you have one or two chances and if you don't kill the opposition in the Premier League they will kill us.”

Of course, Scolari is well aware of the penalty shootout hex over Chelsea:

“I need to change this mentality in the club where some players are afraid of penalties.  I listen and I read Chelsea lost two or three competitions in the last season with penalties.”

“If you are talking about penalties some players refuse to take one. I need to change this. I am the coach and I am responsible for this. There are many games in the Champions League, Carling Cup, FA Cup which could be decided by penalties and I need all the players."

“Remember the World Cup. I was there. In 2004 in the Euros and in 2006 at the World Cup I was there. How can they overcome it? They need to work on it every day in training."

“I know its different taking penalties in Cobham to taking penalties in a game against Milan or Manchester United. There is pressure. But if you don't work in training, if you don't believe or concentrate in training, maybe you make a mistake in the game.”

Our new manager then went on to talk about how he handles players: 

“If you ask players around the world about me they say "I like Scolari because he is a true man, he speaks honestly in front of you and he's very good as a person.  I will try to remain the same way until my last day in Chelsea. If I need to say something to a player, I will say it to his face."

"I had a meeting with the players and I said some things about the Lokomotiv game which until now they have not heard.”“

‘I need to talk to them in training every day.  I tell them I am always here to help you. Maybe you are wrong sometimes but I will help you to lift your heads. Every day.”

And he’s impressed with the attitude of his new squad:

“For other things I think the players have a fantastic mentality.”

“They are very professional. When the club tells the players “today, three o'clock, we have one hour for autographs” they are all there. This is very different in my area of South America. Here they are very professional. If you are training for one hour they want to spend ten or 15 minutes more crossing the ball or shooting.”

As for his new rival managers:

“I like Arsene Wenger; I have known him for ten years. And I like Martin O'Neill. I saw some games and his procedure is very good, the way he works with the team. And I think the players like him.”

“I have also heard the players talking many good words about Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth. I hear he's a good man who does good work. I have relations with Arsene and Juande Ramos, Benitez only a little because I have not played against him.”

“It's not just about playing against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. They are important teams but it's not only these clubs. It's also about Portsmouth, Blackburn, Wigan and all the others.

And this little comment may come as a surprise:

“And Sir Alex Ferguson sometimes because when I was with Portugal we talked about Cristiano, whether he was coming to the national team or not, injured or not. And they also had Nani.”

The Premier League title is obviously a priority: 

“Chelsea wants to be at a higher level than they are now. They want more, to arrive as first in the world. But for this we need not only to beat Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson, we need to finish above all the clubs. I will try to do that with the players this season.”

As for Scolari’s Latin temperament clashing with Abramovich:

“We get on very well.  I met him two or three times maximum. Not more. He is a normal, ordinary person. He is a quiet, reserved person.”

The media love to serve up their conspiracy theory dross to the masses on big evil Roman dictating to his managers, but Scolari puts this to bed emphatically:

“The image of Roman in the TV and newspapers is not correct. It's a fantasy. We only discuss little things. How are you, how are the players? He's quiet and relaxed, not asking all the time about who plays or does not. He does not tell me who to play.”

"When we met to talk about coming to Chelsea.  All he wanted to know was how I play, what system, if I thought Chelsea had a good team or not, who I wanted to buy and whether it would be possible to get them."

So far so good with Scolari I’d say.  The season is yet to start of course but I’m feeling very comfortable with him at the helm of Chelsea.  It needed someone of his stature – a real top drawer manager - to start to wipe out the pain of losing Mourinho and feel real, genuine optimism for the seasons ahead.