Scolari confident of progress
27 Nov 2008 - 07:30:31
Luiz Felipe Scolari has jokingly promised to return to Brazil should Chelsea fail to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Blues need to defeat CFR Cluj in their final group game at Stamford Bridge in two weeks to ensure qualification for the last 16 after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bordeaux on Wednesday.
"Now we need to beat Cluj," admitted Scolari. "But if I thought my players did not have the quality to beat them at home, then it is better I go back to Brazil and stay there."
Speaking about the performance against Bordeaux, the Brazilian coach was less than impressed with his side's defending as Alou Diarra headed an 82nd minute equaliser following Nicolas Anelka's 60th minute opener.
The Blues' night was also soured by a late red card for Frank Lampard following two cautions for the England midfielder.
"I am not satisfied with the goal we gave away," he continued.
"It was a bad goal for us. We work on this in training and it is the first time in my period as Chelsea coach that we have conceded a goal from a corner.
"The players did not relax. They respected the other team but we made a mistake.
"We knew who should be marking the player and who should mark the ball, but mistakes happen.
"Qualification is still in our hands, although we may not finish top of the group.
"When we started the campaign, I didn't think about finishing second because I thought I had the players to arrive in first position in the group.
"But that is not in our hands any more, because we lost these two points to Bordeaux."