Scolari blames player power

28 June 2009 15:40
Luiz Felipe Scolari has blamed a trio of Chelsea's big-name players for his sacking as manager and undermining his authority. The Brazilian World Cup winner was dismissed by Roman Abramovich just several months into a three-year contract earlier this year. Big things were expected of the former Portugal coach as Avram Grant's successor, but after a positive start results began to falter. Now Scolari has pointed the finger at the likes of Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Petr Cech for failing to accept his regime. "The real owners of football at the moment are the players. The coach, in most European clubs, has no strength to contradict them," he told O Globo newspaper. "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." Meanwhile, Scolari has piled the praise on Kaka for staying grounded despite amassing huge fame and fortune. Real Madrid have splashed out on Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo this summer and Scolari has no doubts the pair will become friends. "Kaka is a strange player because of what he does both on and off the field," Scolari said of his compatriot. "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."

Source: SKY_Sports