Scolari Eyes Quadruple
It goes without saying that big things are expected of Scolari, who took the reins at Stamford Bridge earlier this month after vacating his previous post as coach of Portugal.
The man who steered Brazil to their fifth World Cup in 2002 faces the unenviable task of transforming the Blues – renowned for their gritty, results-oriented showings since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003 – into the sexiest and winningest team in Europe.
Scolari knows that neither style nor success alone will guarantee his job beyond next summer; however, he should be fairly safe if he achieves his aim of securing an historic Quadruple.
“We have four competitions this season and I will try to win them all,” the Brazilian said in The Sun.
“Of course it will be very difficult. But we have the players to do it. And in my life I have learned one important lesson — never say never.”
It is easy to forget that Chelsea came within a whisker of clinching a Treble last season, as they finished runner-up in the Premier League, the Champions League and the Carling Cup.
Nearly was clearly not good enough in Abramovich’s eyes, however, and Avram Grant received his marching orders shortly after his side fell to Manchester United via penalty shootout in Moscow.
But Scolari is confident of leading his men a few steps further come 2009, as he believes his big-game experience will allow the Londoners to capitalise on the groundwork laid last term.
“Last year this team arrived in two finals and came close in the league,” he continued. “That is very good news for me.
“I also want to arrive in finals. I will be happy if we do that because I know the way to win them. And the players understand that.
“I’ve told them to work hard and have confidence in themselves. After that, the rest is my problem.”