Luiz Felipe Scolari claims a number of Chelsea
players did not respect him and his training methods during his
eight-month stint at the Bridge.
The 60-year-old Brazilian, who is currently coaching
Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan, singled out the behaviour of Ivory Coast
striker Didier Drogba, Germany midfielder Michael Ballack and Czech
Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech as unacceptable.
Scolari, who took over the Blues hot-seat last July and was
sacked in February, told O Globo newspaper: "The real owners of
football at the moment are the players. The coach, in most European
clubs, has no strength to contradict them.
"The people sacked are always the coaches. The main players
already know this. That was my problem at Chelsea. Drogba, Ballack
and Cech did not accept my training methods or my demands."
The former Brazil and Portugal boss, meanwhile, believes
Cristiano Ronaldo will get on well with fellow Real Madrid new boy
Kaka but reckons Raul is still the main man at the Bernabeu.
"Kaka is a strange player because of what he does both on and
off the field," Scolari said of his countryman.
"That guy is a strange jewel. Despite having gained big fame and
money, he keeps doing his best on the pitch like a youngster.
"I am sure Cristiano Ronaldo and he will get on very well with
each other. Cristiano has nothing to do with the conceited image
everybody has of him. I think both of them will be big friends.
"The problem Real Madrid have is Raul. He is a veteran and is
still the boss in the dressing room, so woe betide anyone he
doesn't like - including the coach."
Scolari wants to return to Brazil after the end of his Bunyodkor
contract in December 2010. He plans to coach there for a while
before retiring, and claims he has already had interest from his
homeland.
"My contract lasts one year and a half, but every six months
we'll sit down and discuss things," he said of his deal with the
Uzbek outfit.
"Both they and I can decide not to continue. They want me to
coach their national team but nothing is decided yet.
"Rivaldo, the big player of our team, told me it was great to do
a very good job because he knows the Under-20 team of the country
and he told me there are a few players who are very good on the
ball, who have good futures," he said.
"I'll be back (in Brazil) in one year and a half. I will work
there as a coach for two more years and that's it. I'll change job
or retire.
"Palmeiras wanted me to sign a pre-contract for the day I return
to Brazil, but I rejected it. When I am back, I want to be free to
decide the best thing at that moment.
"Also, there was a Sao Paulo director who called my agent
because he wanted my phone number."
teamtalk.
