‘We’ll show the world there’s no crisis here’, says Scolari

Global warning: Luiz Felipe Scolari has challenged his players to show a world-wide TV audience there are no problems at Chelsea

Andrew Fifield

13 April 2012

Luiz Felipe Scolari has urged Chelsea to show the world that they are not in crisis by beating Manchester United in Sunday's crucial showdown at Old Trafford.

The Blues manager admits the clash with the reigning champions is a must-win for his stuttering side, who have won just twice in their last seven Premier League games.

Second-placed Chelsea still lead third-placed United by four points but Sir Alex Ferguson's team have two games in hand and would put a severe dent in their rivals' title hopes by beating them at home.

Scolari knows the world will be watching to see if his team slip up again this weekend but insists there is no better occasion for Chelsea to prove their class. He said: "It's the perfect game for us to lift ourselves - a fantastic game and the world will be watching.

"If you speak to someone in China, they will be watching; in Brazil, Qatar, wherever, they will be watching and that's good for the players.

"They need no motivation because we need to beat them. They are four points behind but they have two games in hand and those games are not against us.

"We need to win the game because we need to stay in front of them. If you lose against a direct opponent, you are in trouble. But I like these games.

"They are different: it's not a derby but it's an exciting match and when I signed my contract with Chelsea, I was thinking of games like this."
Scolari has come under fire from sections of the Chelsea support for his team's form in recent weeks.

He was taunted with cries of You don't know what you're doing' when he substituted Joe Cole during the recent draw with Fulham and the side were booed off after being held at home by Southend in the FA Cup last week.

But the Brazilian, who has Alex, Florent Malouda and Jose Bosingwa all available after injury, insist he is not feeling the heat as he faces his first mini- crisis since joining the club.
He added: "This is my job. I need to arrive in first position in every competition. If I don't, the board will say if I have done a good job or not. It's not a question of pressure.I work hard and I want to win."

Ferguson, whose team play one of their games in hand against Wigan at Old Trafford next Wednesday, believes that home advantage will make a huge difference in the title race.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all have to head to the north-west and United have only dropped points to Newcastle — a 0-0 draw in their opening match — in eight home games.

Ferguson said: "The two games in hand we have gives us an opportunity to close the gap [on leaders Liverpool]. There is no question those are important games and we have to take advantage of them.

"But we need to focus on the challenge of Chelsea first. Our home form this season and record has been great again. Chelsea have always had a good record at Old Trafford. This is a big game and we need to meet the challenge."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, whose team face Bolton tomorrow, would like to see Sunday's match end in stalemate to improve the Gunners' chances of catching the leaders. He said: "Ideally I'd like it to be a 1-1 but we have to focus on our game."

Meanwhile, Ferguson insists he will not change his philosophy of building successful teams without breaking the bank at Old Trafford, unlike the millions ploughed into Chelsea by Roman Abramovich.

He added: "We know we can't match the spending power of Chelsea, who changed the face of the League, and have to identify young players."
Ferguson also refused to be drawn on comments from Carlos Tevez that he is unhappy at United's stalling over his contract.

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‘We’ll show the world there’s no crisis here’, says Scolari

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