Source: Telegraph
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked
The players' faith in the World Cup-winning coach is understood to have been undermined by his training methods, which some senior internationals felt failed to address the unique demands of the Premier League. [LNB]With Chelsea having slipped below Aston Villa in the Premier League, there were very real concerns about the possibility of finishing outside the top four and failing to qualify for the Champions League. [LNB]'Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season,' said a Chelsea statement. 'In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for, we felt the only option was to make the change now.'[LNB]Scolari responded by insisting that he had the support of the players and also pointed to the failure to sign Robinho during the summer. Scolari intends to continue living in London and said that he wished Chelsea luck for the remainder of the season. [LNB]'It seems that Abramovich made the decision,' said his spokesman Acaz Fellegger. 'The Chelsea squad are old. When Scolari arrived at Chelsea the agreement was to rejuvenate an ageing team. Scolari had wanted Robinho but Chelsea didn't want to spend the money and eventually they lost out on the player.'[LNB]While assistant coach Ray Wilkins will take charge of the team on a temporary basis, the club have drawn up a shortlist of candidates, despite chief executive Peter Kenyon being on holiday in Barbados. [LNB]Guus Hiddink, Frank Rijkaard and Roberto Mancini are regarded as the leading contenders. There are also suggestions that Avram Grant will be considered as a short-term measure, while Mark Hughes, Martin O'Neill and David Moyes are options. [LNB]Manager success at Stamford Bridge (Premier League results) Played Won Drew Lost Win percentage Jose Mourinho (June 2004-Sept 2007) 120 85 25 10 71 Avram Grant (Sept 2007-May 2008) 32 22 8 2 69 Luiz Felipe Scolari (July 2008-Feb 2009) 25 14 7 4 56 Claudio Ranieri (Sept 2000-May 2004) 146 76 37 33 52 Gianluca Vialli(Feb 1998-Sept 2000) 94 45 29 20 48 Ruud Gullit (May 1996-Feb 1998) 63 30 14 19 48 Glenn Hoddle (June 1993-May 1996) 122 38 41 43 31 Under Scolari, Chelsea lost their English record unbeaten home League record (85 gameChelsea have 49 points, the first time they have won fewer than 50 points from 25 games in the Roman Abramovich era.
