Scolari hits out at Cech, Drogba and Ballack

LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI claims a number of Chelsea players did not respect him and his training methods during his ill-fated eight-month stint at Stamford Bridge.

The 60-year-old Brazilian, who is currently coaching Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan, singled out the behaviour of Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, Germany midfielder Michael Ballack and Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech as unacceptable.

The Chelsea trio spoke with the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, about the Brazilian’s management style and training methods as the team’s form began to deteriorate, with Scolari citing the three as key to his early departure.

Scolari, who took over the Blues hot-seat last July and was sacked in February, said: “The real owners of football at the moment are the players. The coach, in most European clubs, has no strength to contradict them.

“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.”

Scolari’s comments were his first public reflections on his controversial departure from Stamford Bridge and served to highlight the perceived power cliques within the set-up, an issue new manager Carlo Ancelotti may have to address.

Drogba, Ballack and Cech have since denied seeking to undermine Scolari by meeting Abramovich, with Ballack claiming at the time that such dialogue between owner and senior playing personnel was “normal’’.

Drogba had been marginalised under the Brazilian, his impact nullified first by a lack of fitness as he recovered from a knee injury, and then suspension and poor form, while Cech conceded last month that Scolari had simply “not worked out’’ at Stamford Bridge, adding that Chelsea “were missing a lot of discipline’’ under the Brazilian.

The former Brazil and Portugal boss, meanwhile, believes Cristiano Ronaldo will get on well with fellow Real Madrid new boy Kaka but reckons Raul is still the main man at the Bernabeu.

“Kaka is a strange player because of what he does both on and off the field,” Scolari said of his countryman.

“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 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.

“The problem Real Madrid have is Raul. He is a veteran and is still the boss in the dressing room, so woe betide anyone he doesn’t like – including the coach.”

Scolari wants to return to Brazil after the end of his Bunyodkor contract in December 2010. He plans to coach there for a while before retiring, and claims he has already had interest from his homeland.

“My contract lasts one year and a half, but every six months we’ll sit down and discuss things,” he said of his deal with the Uzbek outfit.

“Both they and I can decide not to continue. They want me to coach their national team but nothing is decided yet.

“Rivaldo, the big player of our team, told me it was great to do a very good job because he knows the U20 team of the country and there are a few players who are very good on the ball and who have good futures.

“I’ll be back in Brazil in one year and a half. I will work there as a coach for two more years and that’s it. I’ll change job or retire.

“Palmeiras wanted me to sign a pre-contract for the day I return to Brazil, but I rejected it. When I am back, I want to be free to decide the best thing at that moment.”