Source: SKY_Sports
Sackings shocked Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Portsmouth and Chelsea were too hasty in sacking Tony Adams and Luiz Felipe Scolari this week.[LNB] Adams bit the bullet after just 106 days in charge at Fratton Park while Scolari lasted seven months at Chelsea after replacing Avram Grant last summer.[LNB]Wenger is the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League having been Arsenal boss for over 12 years and has overseen the most successful period in the club's history.[LNB]Adams won the league title twice under Wenger and the French coach is confident his former captain has the ability to become a successful manager too.[LNB]Big decision"I believe that Tony will be a very good manager and I don't believe he was given the needed time," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.[LNB]"It is a big surprise that they made a big decision so quickly because when they made the decision to give him the job they knew he has worked there for a year-and-a-half and they knew him.[LNB]"When you give a young manager that much responsibility you have to give him time."[LNB]While Adams has limited experience as a first-team boss, Scolari led Brazil to World Cup glory and Portugal to the Euro 2004 final before stepping into the Chelsea hotseat.[LNB]Yet not even that was enough to buy the Brazilian coach more time at the Blues' helm and Wenger admits his departure came as a big shock.[LNB]Massive surpriseJose Mourinho and Grant have also been sacked by Chelsea within the last 17 months but if anyone can steady the ship at Stamford Bridge, Wenger believes Dutch trouble-shooter Guus Hiddink could be the man for the job.[LNB]"Scolari is a well-known manager and was only given six months," he said.[LNB]"It is difficult to know what the atmosphere inside the club is when you don't live there every day, but it is still a massive surprise.[LNB]"However, you know when one super manager is sacked at Chelsea, another super manager will come in.[LNB]"I rate Hiddink highly. He has been tremendously successful everywhere. He has had a long career and he's a strong personality."[LNB]Wenger is now set to battle it out with Hiddink in the race for the four Champions League places.[LNB]Chelsea's poor form has allowed Aston Villa to climb to third, with the Blues now only five points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal.[LNB]"I believe [we should] focus on our way to be successful and not too much on the others," Wenger added.[LNB]"We need outstanding performances until the end of the season and the only way to achieve that is by focusing on our performances.[LNB]"If Chelsea gain points Aston Villa will drop, it is all linked together - but if we are consistent we will be there."[LNB]
