Mourinho backs Big Phil to stay

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has urged the Portuguese Football Federation to keep Luiz Felipe Scolari on as coach after the World Cup.

Scolari, the Brazilian who masterminded his homeland’s 2002 World Cup victory, led the Portuguese to the Euro 2004 final where they lost to Greece and has now led them to the semi-finals of the World Cup where they will play France in Munich on Wednesday.

Mourinho told Portuguese TV channel SIC: “I don’t always agree with him (Scolari) but I acknowledge what a good coach he is for the national side.

“There are not many Portuguese coaches with his record or status or capacities to motivate a team to reach this level of performance.

“There is every reason for him to continue and I hope that’s what happens.”

Mourinho hailed Scolari’s man management skills, adding: “Ricardo was not a starting goalkeeper with Sporting Lisbon for a while, Maniche has hardly played in a year, Costinha has not had a club, (Helder) Postiga scores one or two goals a year, Miguel was without a club for a while and Nuno Valente was at one point playing for the Porto B team.

“But all the time Scolari told them he counted on them.”