Comment: Humble Scolari is still special
Tuesday, 08 Jul 2008 22:00
Luiz Felipe Scolari wowed the media in his first press conference as Chelsea manager
Luiz Felipe Scolari's reign as Chelsea manager began in earnest today when he told the assembled media a new Special One had arrived in west London.
Initially, anyway.
It was roughly 15 minutes into the Brazilian's first news conference as Blues boss when the inevitable question came.
"One of your predecessors, Jose Mourinho, said he was the Special One when he arrived as Chelsea manager. Are you special Luiz Felipe?"
The former Portugal coach's debut in front of English journalists had been going almost without a hitch until this point, give or take a few early stumbles with his adopted language.
Forgetting the pre-prepared lined for just a split second the 59-year-old responded unequivocally by proclaiming: "Yes!"
He remembered his script quickly however, and recovered with: "I am special for my friends, for my family, for my country, not more.
"As a manager? So-so."
Mourinho's four-year-old off-the-cuff remarks will continue to hound any future Chelsea manager, but at least Scolari did not allow the Portuguese to dominate his media bow.
The Brazilian was both engaging and forthright, insisting Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba would be staying at Chelsea and that the transfer tales swirling round Stamford Bridge would remain rumours until he had seen his players close up in training.
He did little to quell speculation surrounding the club's pursuit of AC Milan midfielder Kaka though, with his emphasis on team ethics sounding as feasible as his insistence Manchester United would be as dangerous opponents for Chelsea next year without Real Madrid target Cristiano Ronaldo.
While Scolari lacks the effortless charm of Mourinho his poise and evident stature went down well with the UK press, who had grown accustomed to the dour and downright difficult Avram Grant.
When asked of his sacked predecessor Scolari said any manager would be judged on trophies, claiming "one or two or three or four or five" trophies would be his target.
No surprises there then, but Scolari did offer an intriguing glimpse of what type of football can be expected in west London next season.
Grant waxed lyrical about the beautiful game but it never materialised in his brief reign, while Mourinho's pragmatic approach was ultimately behind his breakdown in relations with Roman Abramovich.
When asked about the importance of winning well Scolari responded: "If possible we will try to play beautiful football, but sometimes if you want to win some games you have to play beautiful.
"But to arrive in the final you must win at all costs.
"I want both the win and beautiful football – but sometimes it is impossible."
Regardless of how his team play and where the futures of Lampard and Drogba lie, if he can bring silverware back to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea fans and Abramovich will join Scolari's friends, family and country in regarding him as the Special One.
Matthew Champion