SunSport broke the news last week that the Brazil
defender wants to quit the Blues. Now Alex has again stated his
wish to leave — and he has arranged a meeting with Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich to talk it over. If Scolari allows the Brazilian
international to go then Chelsea will be without one of their most
reliable defenders.
Alex, 26, is desperate for regular first-team football
and last season appeared in more games than John Terry and Ricardo
Carvalho. That was because of injuries to the first-choice Chelsea
central defensive pairing but being a reserve is the reason Alex
wants out.
He told Scolari of his feeling as soon as the manager
arrived last summer. And Alex revealed he is more determined than
ever to get away. He said: “I know it’s not the best time to go in
January, in the middle of the season. But I have to think about
other things, I have to think about my own interests.
“I tried to leave before this season started but when
Scolari arrived they did not want to let me go. I had already
spoken to the club before he came. Now that the transfer window
will open again in January I will try again. I think this time it
will happen.”
Alex insisted he was not trying to cause boss Scolari
more worry than he has already. After all, with just one win in
their last five home games and nothing to spend in January, losing
a player is the last thing on his mind.
Alex explained his desire to play regularly to make it
back into the Brazil team is his reason for wanting to leave. He
said: “It’s a difficult situation for me. I have nothing against
the manager but he has two great defenders in Terry and Carvalho. I
have nothing against the guys who are playing — they are always
very good.
"Chelsea have one of the best defences in the world.
Terry and Carvalho are doing very well. They don’t make many
mistakes and have been playing together for four years.”
Even so, the Alex situation could not have arisen at a
worse time for Scolari. With the team struggling to break down
opposition such as West Ham and Newcastle, the Brazilian coach will
be looking for inspiration — not dissent.
Yet questions about what is going wrong for Chelsea are
being asked by the fans, players and the owner. SunSport told of
how Terry and Frank Lampard asked Scolari to increase the intensity
of the training sessions.
Others have debated whether Deco is receiving
preferential treatment from the boss. The Portugal international
has struggled to reach the heights of his early-season form since
returning from a thigh injury.
Despite that, Scolari has kept faith with him and even
subbed Michael Ballack at half-time last weekend, leaving Deco to
play out the full 90 minutes.
Deco was the fulcrum of Scolari’s Portugal team during
his six years in charge and is the only player he has bought for
Chelsea. Alex cannot be accused of getting any favours from his
countryman Scolari. He said: “It wasn’t a question of whether the
new manager was Brazilian, it was always going to be difficult for
me.
“There are big clubs where I could be playing while
here it’s more difficult for me. There are so many big clubs who
need centre-backs. There were so many offers in the summer but they
did not let me go.
“The only problem is I want to play, that’s the only
problem I have.” If only Big Phil Scolari could say he had only one
problem.
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