Portugal reveal Chelsea fury

Portugal have lashed out at Chelsea for announcing during Euro 2008 that Luiz Felipe Scolari had accepted an offer to coach the club.

Portuguese Football Federation president Gilberto Madail addressed the media on Friday following his team's elimination from the European Championship at the hands of Germany the previous night, and believes the timing of the announcement of Scolari's impending departure had a destabilising effect.
"It wasn't the best moment for us for Chelsea to announce Scolari's appointment," said Madail. "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 wish Chelsea would have consulted us before so that we could have chosen a better time."
Madail conceded that Scolari's departure was inevitable.
"I knew when we entered the tournament that Scolari would leave," he said.
"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."
Portugal have also had to deal with the distraction of Cristiano Ronaldo's club situation.
The 23-year-old star is under contract at Manchester United but Real Madrid are hell-bent on bringing him to the Bernabeu for the forthcoming campaign.
Ronaldo admitted after Thursday's 3-2 defeat that he would be discussing his future with United in the coming days.
"I don't know what is going on in Ronaldo's mind and I don't think that contract problems would affect a player," said Madail.
"It's normal for players to have to deal with these issues. I don't think it interferes and I didn't see any problem with Ronaldo."
Leaving the competition at the quarter-final stage was a huge disappointment for Portugal, who had been one of the most exciting teams in the event.
They had shown a lot of flair but ultimately came unstuck against a determined Germany.
"I was very disappointed with the game yesterday," Madail said.
"Everyone saw Portugal is a strong squad.
"There is no way our elimination was fair but the result was fair on the night, Germany won 3-2 and we made mistakes and were made to pay.
"Good luck for Germany but especially the best of luck to Spain."
Now the Portuguese have the difficult task of finding a replacement for Scolari.
The Brazilian tactician led Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 and a fourth-place finish in the World Cup in Germany two years ago.
Portugal will now turn their attentions to qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and will announce at the beginning of next month who will suceceed Scolari.
Madail added: "Whether some like it or not, he (Scolari) left a mark in Portuguese football.
"He is a spectacular coach who made a huge impact and that will remain in the history of Portugal. But life continues.
"(The new coach) will have to speak Portuguese but not necessarily be Portuguese.
"He has to have ambition and be a winner. He has to be someone who the players respect."

Strange they didn't say anything when the announcement was made. Seems they're looking for a scapegoat.

'Big Phil' Named Manager

Luis Felipe Scolari has been named as our new manager. He will take up his duties on July 1.
After saying he would only talk about the Portugese national team until the European Championships were over, an official statement was made last night.
The Club will make no further statement until July 1.
Presumably his first task will be to persuade Lamps and Riccy to stay.

Waiting For Luiz Felipe Scolari?

Roman Abramovich will hold a meeting this week with Eugene Tenenbaum, Peter Kenyon and Bruce Buck as they continue the process of searching for a new manager. The Club have finalised a three-man shortlist of individuals they believe would be capable of doing the most demanding job in European club football – understood to include Luiz Felipe Scolari and Mark Hughes – and are confident of making progress in the next few days. Scolari is the favourite and has told friends that he would relish the opportunity of working for Abramovich.
.Rather than settle for one of their less favoured candidates, such as Roberto Mancini or Frank Rijkaard, who are out of work, Chelsea are prepared to bide their time to get the right man and they may have to because Scolari will not enter negotiations until Portugal are knocked out of the European Championships. In an attempt to secure greater privacy, the latest talks will take place on one of Abramovich’s yachts at an undisclosed location, rather than at Stamford Bridge.
Yesterday Chelsea denied claims from Adriano Galliani, the AC Milan vice-president, that they had asked for permission to speak to Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian club’s manager, but they didn’t deny he was a candidate. The former Milan midfield player has an enviable record after eight years in charge, lifting the European Cup twice and winning one Italian league title, but his star is fading after the club failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League and his reputation for defensive football is unlikely to impress Roman.
Galliani’s claims may be part of an attempt to usher Ancelotti towards the exit because Milan are reluctant to sack their managers, particularly one with such a distinguished record in almost two decades at the club.
Scolari remains in pole position for the job and he would relish one final pay-day; he is the only man who fulfils all of Chelsea’s demands. The 59-year-old’s record at the highest level is beyond exemplary, winning the World Cup with Brazil and twice taking Portugal to the last four of leading championships, while he also coaches attacking football and is a strong disciplinarian, which Chelsea are seeking as they want to reestablish order over the dressing-room.
Guus Hiddink has many similar qualities, although he ruled himself out in unequivocal terms yesterday. “I have just given my word to the Russian football president and he to me that we will continue until the end of the 2010 World Cup,” he said. “Everyone is speculating because a deal [with the Russian FA] is not signed officially, but what is more important to me is that there is an agreement between the president and me for me to continue.
“I have not spoken to Chelsea regarding the vacant job, but every now and then I have contact with Abramovich about the development of Russian football. That is my only contact. If Chelsea did not put so much pressure to get two or three cups every year, I would imagine they would start to play even better. I know Rijkaard very well and believe he could fit very well in this philosophy.”
As well as finding a new manager, Chelsea will attempt to secure Frank Lampard’s future this week, with his agent expected at the club for contract talks. The England midfield player has one year left on his present deal and is a long-term target for José Mourinho, who was unveiled as the new manager of Inter Milan earlier today
So it looks like my theory of Jose’s return has just gone up in smoke..

Ten Cate Sacked

SPECULATION continued to mount as to who would become the next manager of Chelsea last night after the Blues took the surprising step of sacking assistant coach Hen ten Cate.
Two days ago, the former Ajax chief insisted his position was unaffected by the dismissal of manager Avram Grant last weekend and committed himself to the club until at least 2010.
But the Blues announced yesterday that the Dutchman was to follow Grant out of the exit door at Stamford Bridge after just eight months in the job.
Ten Cate’s departure has now sent the rumour mill into overdrive — it was suggested he was the pawn to bring Frank Rijkaard to Stamford Bridge, as the pair had worked together at Barcelona. This now seems unlikely.
The tale took a further twist last night when it was confirmed that Roberto Mancini, another of Chelsea’s reported targets, had been sacked as manager as Inter Milan — as had been widely expected. Former boss Jose Mourinho is tipped to replace him at the helm of the Serie A champions.
As a result, Mancini is now the red-hot favourite to take over the top job, while one-time favourite Rijkaard has drifted out.
A club statement read: “Chelsea FC can confirm that it terminated Henk ten Cate’s contract today. This follows a meeting this morning. “As a result of the team management changes at Chelsea FC, and in the light of any forthcoming appointment, it was clear this was the correct decision for all parties.”
Mancini is one of several names strongly linked to the managerial vacancy with Mark Hughes, Luis Felipe Scolari and now AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti among them.

I've now got a funny feeling that Jose might be on his way back, encouraged by the fact that Steve Clarke, Jose's number two, is still in his position and the reports that Roman bought him a £2 million Ferrari back in March, which could be seen as a sweetener and a 'let's make up and be friendly' move. Myself, and most of the club's fanbase I believe, would love this to happen, but unfortuneately, I'll probably be proved wrong.

Failing that, I think we should go for Big Phil or Sparky. I don't think Mancini is the man for the job and, please God, not Sven.

What do you think?

Chelsea go for £15M Van der Vaart

Chelsea are moving for Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.
The Mirror says sacked Chelsea boss Avram Grant is believed to have had Van der Vaart on his radar before being sacked at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
Now the Blues will press ahead with signing the players the Israeli had earmarked for this summer.
The £15million-rated HSV skipper has so far refused all offers to sign an extension to his current deal, which runs out in 2010.