Chelsea timing in Portugal's firing line
Friday, 20 Jun 2008 22:46
Chelsea criticised by Portuguese football officials over timing of appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari
Chelsea have been attacked by Portuguese football officials over the timing of the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The Premier League runners-up announced Scolari as Avram Grant's successor as manager following Portugal's group A win over the Czech Republic.
Since then Portugal have failed to win a match; suffering a surprising dead rubber defeat to Switzerland before crashing out of the quarter-finals against Germany last night .
Portuguese Football Federation chief Gilberto Madail told journalists on Friday Chelsea's announcement had a destabilising affect on Portugal's chances.
"I wish Chelsea would have consulted us before so that we could have chosen a better time," Madail said, confirming initial reports the move had come as a shock to Portugal bosses.
"It wasn't the best moment for us for Chelsea to announce Scolari's appointment.
"I know Scolari had nothing to do with it and I was surprised, not by the appointment - because Scolari is a great coach - but at the timing chosen.
"I knew when we entered the tournament that Scolari would leave. We respected his wishes. His cycle with Portugal had ended because he wanted a new experience with a club.
"There was nothing we could do. It was a financial issue and we couldn't match Chelsea's offer."
Madail added Scolari's five-year reign as coach had made a "huge impact" on Portuguese football.
He praised the Brazilian as a "spectacular coach" after he took the team to the final of Euro 2004, the semi-finals of the World Cup and the quarter-finals in Austria/Switzerland.