Source: SKY_Sports
Ballack - No Scolari plot
Chelsea star Michael Ballack has denied suggestions he helped oust Luiz Felipe Scolari from his job at Stamford Bridge.[LNB] Scolari was surprisingly sacked last week after just seven months in charge of the club with Guus Hiddink coming in to replace him.[LNB]Reports suggested player power helped remove Scolari from his post with Ballack, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba allegedly key in persuading Blues owner Roman Abramovich to axe Scolari after having a meeting with the Russian.[LNB]German international Ballack has expressed his surprise at the claims and insists he had a good relationship with Scolari. [LNB]"I couldn't believe this," Ballack said. "I was surprised when I heard about it in Germany as I always had a lot of good words about Scolari. [LNB]Not true"This is not true. Meetings are normal in a club. If people speak with each other, even if you don't have the success you want, it has happened before. It's not just this week. It happened with other coaches. [LNB]"It's normal Abramovich comes in the dressing-room and speaks with players. It's not easy, not nice to sack somebody. This was in the papers, but is definitely not true. [LNB]"There is no backing or basis for this. I had a good relationship with every coach. I never said this. [LNB]"It's speculation which appears in newspapers. I was disappointed as I couldn't react because I was away. [LNB]"In recent months I've spoken good things about the coach, but if you don't get the results, a lot of people speak."[LNB]BackingBallack believes Hiddink is the right man to succeed Scolari and that he can help Chelsea get their season back on track.[LNB]"He's an experienced, very strong coach who's had a lot of success. Even with teams that aren't favourites like Korea, Australia, now Russia, he's pushed them to another level," added Ballack. [LNB]"Of course, my first impressions were that I was impressed but it's too soon to say anything about him. [LNB]"He only has a short time and that's not easy for anybody, but he's an experienced guy and we're an experienced team. It shouldn't be a problem to fight and stay together." [LNB]
