Chelsea

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has admitted he dreams of playing for Milan and that he has held talks with the Italian giants. Drogba has been strongly linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge for a number of months and the Ivorian has now revealed that he met with Milan at the start of last season. The 30-year-old, who could make his final appearance for Chelsea in next week's UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United, has confessed to flying to Italy in August 2006 to talk with veteran Milan defender Paolo Maldini and the club's vice-president Adriano Galliani. "All footballers dream of signing for Milan." said Drogba - who joined Chelsea from Marseille for £24million in 2004 - in extracts from his autobiography quoted in The Sun. "I explained to Paolo Maldini that Milan is a club I would love to join." Drogba goes on to say that Galliani allegedly asked him, 'When would you like to play for Milan?' And Drogba replied: "Whenever you want, it's all up to you - get the money ready and go see Chelsea." Drogba has also disclosed that he informed ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho -who was in charge of the Blues at the time - that he was going to the dentist in Paris, but the appointment was cancelled and he travelled to Milan instead. And according to Drogba, when Mourinho found out about the discussions with Milan he blasted the forward over the telephone and forced him to train with Chelsea's reserves. Drogba added: "Jose took the phone and put it on loud speaker and said, 'OK, seeing as we are not kids we are going to talk. 'I trusted you - I've done everything for you and there you are telling me you're going to the dentist in Paris when in fact you're in Milan talking over your transfer. 'You lied to me. You didn't keep your word. Have you been badly brought up or what?'"

Grant sacked as Chelsea manager
Chelsea have sacked manager Avram Grant after just eight months in charge. The decision followed two days of talks between Grant, 53, and the club's chief executive Peter Kenyon. The Israeli coach's position had been subject to intense speculation after Chelsea finished runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League. Russia coach Guus Hiddink, fellow Dutchman Frank Rijkaard and Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson are among the early favourites to replace Grant. Chelsea said in a statement on their website that the search for a new coach would now begin and that the club will make no further comment. The statement said: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today. This follows meetings over the last two days. "Everybody at Chelsea FC would like to thank Avram for his contribution since taking over as manager last September. "We will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager for Chelsea and there will be no further comment until that appointment is made." "He was little more than a stop gap," Legard told SSB. "He never really had the CV, never really had the experience, never really had the clout to fill the boots of Jose Mourinho. "Have Chelsea got someone lined up? I don't think they have. They may have a few ideas but whether they will be able to pursue them is another matter. The futures of Chelsea assistants Steve Clarke and Henk Ten Cate are unclear and no official word has yet been given on their positions. Grant, a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, took over on 20 September 2007 after Mourinho was sacked. Rijkaard, Eriksson and, most recently, Brian Laudrup and Roberto Mancini have all been linked with a possible move to Chelsea with the likes of Luiz Felipe Scolari and Mark Hughes in the running. Despite losing just two Premier League games while in charge, Grant attracted criticism from fans who claimed his team lacked style. He was also criticised for losing February's League Cup final against Tottenham. Grant joined Chelsea last summer from Portsmouth as director of football, a decision which apparently did not please Mourinho. Mourinho was later dismissed after their 1-1 draw with Rosenborg at Stamford Bridge in their opening Champions League game. Grant, who had never managed a club in England, was asked to take over and on 13 December 2007 signed a four-year contract. Both Kenyon and chairman Bruce Buck paved the way for change by insisting that Chelsea's performance this season was simply "not good enough". Buck said: "We have very high expectations at Chelsea and a couple of second place finishes is just not good enough for us. "So although we never would have thought in September when Jose Mourinho left that we would be able to make it into a Champions League final as we did - and that is fantastic - Chelsea are here to win trophies. "So although it was an excellent season, we are still disappointed." A series of discussions finally resolved Grant's future and it is understood the Israeli said his farewells to the players on Friday - telling them it had been a 'privilege' to manage the team. Ironically, Mourinho has yet to take up a new job since his dismissal by Chelsea but he said only this week that he expects to be back in football in June. His odds for a dramatic and unexpected return to Chelsea were cut from 20/1 down to 8/1 by English bookmakers late on Saturday.

Lampard wants to stay - Scolari
New Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari insists Frank Lampard has told him he wants to remain at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have rejected an official approach from Inter Milan to discuss the transfer of the England midfielder. And after meeting Lampard the Brazilian told Chelsea TV there is no chance of the 30-year-old joining ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho at the Italian club. "I was very happy because I asked if he wants to stay and he said 'yes, I will stay at Chelsea'," said Scolari. Lampard's contract expires next summer but, speaking later at his first press conference in England since taking charge of the Blues, Scolari underlined that he sees Lampard's long-term future as being at the London club. "I met him on Monday and told him that I like him very much as a player and as a person and I asked him if he wanted to stay, not only for this season but for longer," added Scolari. "After we had spoken for 15 minutes, he said he wants to stay and play for Chelsea for many years. "I am very happy because I think Chelsea need Lampard and I think he is with us for more than one year." BBC Sport revealed on Monday that Inter had contacted the Blues over Lampard. However, a statement on Chelsea's website on Tuesday read: "We have informed Inter that we will not enter into any discussions regarding the transfer." Should he fail to agree a new deal with the Stamford Bridge output before his current deal runs out, Lampard would be free to leave without his new club paying a fee. That appears to be reflected in Inter's valuation of the midfielder, with reports suggesting they had made a £6.5m bid. And, despite Chelsea's insistence that they had not received an offer from Inter, the Italian club's president Massimo Moratti claims a bid was made. "This is not true," said Moratti. "There was an offer and we confirm it. However, we don't want to create any big problems. "They replied that they have no intention of negotiating, as was their right. Now we will see." Some reports had suggested that Lampard might be willing to buy out the remaining 12 months of his contract - as permitted under Fifa rules and on the back of Chelsea signing Portugal midfielder Deco from Barcelona in June.

Drogba will miss start of season
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed striker Didier Drogba is set to miss the start of the season. Drogba, 30, has spent the summer recuperating from a knee injury and will not be fit for the Premier League opener against Portsmouth on 17 August. "Didier will not play in our first game and will probably miss the second against Wigan," said Scolari. "If there are no more problems he should be ready for the game after that, Tottenham on 31 August." However, Scolari concedes that the nature of Drogba's injury makes it difficult to predict exactly when the Ivory Coast star will return to full fitness. The Brazilian added: "When you have a knee injury, you just never know. "I have been getting a progress report from the doctor every day. "He's getting better and is working with a fitness coach back at the training ground. "I hope he will be ready to start training next week but he will not play until he is in good condition." In the absence of Drogba, Chelsea will be relying heavily on Nicolas Anelka, who scored four goals in a 5-0 mauling of AC Milan on Sunday. Salomon Kalou is away at the Olympics and Scolari has hinted Andriy Shevchenko is not a contender to start the first game of the season.

Robinho move to Chelsea in doubt
Real Madrid have put striker Robinho's move in doubt by declaring he is under contract to them for two more seasons. The 24-year-old was understood to be close to sealing a £28m move, with Chelsea confident of a deal. But Real president Ramon Calderon said on Thursday: "The coach and the sports director want the player to stay and I am sure he will. Our squad is complete. Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "I don't know about Robinho because it is not my job to enter into talks." Since succeeding Avram Grant in the summer, the Brazilian has so far only signed Deco. But with the deadline having passed for Robinho to sign and be eligible to play against Tottenham on Sunday, Scolari is now concentrating his efforts on preparation for his first London derby. He said: "If they can bring him here it will be down to board meetings and I have to think about Tottenham not about whether players have come or have not come. "I don't know anything because I have not spoken to Peter for the last two days." "He is a very good player but it is not only me that wants him, all the coaches in the world do too. "But at the moment what is happening on the pitch is the only important thing for me. For my players to play well against Tottenham is what matters." Real sporting director Predrag Mijatovic echoed Calderon's comments, saying: "Robinho has two years left on his contract. "Therefore he is our player for the next two seasons, so you can draw your own conclusions from that." The sticking point appears to be that Real have been unable to secure a replacement for Robinho. Real are believed to want Villareal's Spain international Santi Carzola or Valencia's David Villa but are not currently close to a deal for either player. Real's comments are in stark contrast to Kenyon's statement on Wednesday, when he told BBC London 94.9: "Everybody expected negotiations to go close to the wire and that's what it will do but we're confident it will happen. "There are no hitches, it's just a lengthy process." Reports had suggested that the Brazil international could cost the Blues about £30m. And his agent Wagner Ribeiro told BBC Radio 5 Live this week that the deal could be completed in time for Robinho to play in Chelsea's match against London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

Terry wins appeal to face Man Utd
Chelsea captain John Terry has been cleared to play against Manchester United on Sunday after his appeal against a red card proved successful. Terry was sent off for a foul on Manchester City striker Jo, but a Football Association hearing upheld Chelsea's claim of wrongful dismissal. He received a straight red from Mark Halsey, with the referee deeming the incident to be serious foul play. The England skipper had been set to miss three games. Had the ban been enforced, Terry would have missed Sunday's crucial Premier League clash with champions United, as well as the Carling Cup tie against Portsmouth on 24 September and the league encounter with Stoke three days later. The foul on Jo occurred inside the centre circle, with Terry's centre-back partner Ricardo Carvalho covering the play and full-back Jose Bosingwa also sprinting back to defend. Chelsea's on-field complaints were initially based on the fact that Terry was not the last defender. But Halsey's decision to issue a red card for serious foul play rather than a professional foul meant the position on the pitch and the presence of other players were not relevant. Serious foul play is classed as when a player "uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is play".

Wilkins handed Chelsea coach role
Ray Wilkins has been appointed Chelsea's assistant first-team coach following Steve Clarke's move to West Ham United. It is a return to Stamford Bridge for Wilkins, where he played for six years from 1973 and also coached with Gianluca Vialli between 1998 and 2000. The 52-year-old began his career with Chelsea, making 198 appearances and being made captain at the age of 18. The former England midfielder will now assist Luiz Felipe Scolari.

FA will examine Drogba comments
The Football Association is to study claims in Didier Drogba's autobiography that he wishes he had punched Nemanja Vidic in the Champions League final. The Chelsea striker was sent off in the final in Moscow in May for slapping the Manchester United defender. The FA will investigate the remark and the book as a whole to see if Drogba has brought the game into disrepute. A spokesman said: "We are aware of the comments and will be examining them in their proper context." Drogba's red card prevented him from participating in the penalty shoot-out in Moscow, which Chelsea lost. In the book, he wrote: "I have seen the match on video and I believe I should not have been sent off with three minutes to go. "If I had punched him, I would have understood. Now I wish I had." It is understood the FA is not viewing the incident in the same light as Roy Keane's 2002 book, in which the former Manchester United captain said he had deliberately injured Alf Inge Haaland. Keane was banned for five games and fined £150,000 by the FA, but Drogba may simply be warned that his comments are unwelcome. The 30-year-old Ivory Coast striker - who has been shortlisted for the 2008 European Footballer of the Year award - is currently out of action with a knee injury that he sustained playing against CFR Cluj on 1 October.

Chelsea display worries Scolari
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted he was concerned after seeing his side well beaten away to Roma. The loss meant Chelsea's lead at the top of Champions League Group A was cut to just one point with two games left. "When you give away three goals you do worry," he said after the 3-1 loss in Rome. "You need to think why was this and what we can do in our next game. "We gave too many opportunities to Roma. We made too many mistakes, made wrong passes and had bad positions." Despite the disappointing display, which was made worse by the late dismissal of midfielder Deco, the coach remained upbeat about their qualification chances. "It's true the group is open for all the teams," added Scolari. "All of the groups are difficult. We lost one game and there are other teams behind us. "But we have to win one game and we are there while other teams might need to win two games. "We now have two chances to win against Bordeaux and Cluj." Scolari was critical of the decision to show Deco a second yellow card with 10 minutes to go for taking a free-kick too quickly. "I think if one Roma player had done what Deco did they would not have been sent off," he said. "Nevertheless, I have good quality players in midfield to replace him for our next game."

Essien questions Arsenal strategy
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien believes Arsenal's stylish brand of football is ultimately self-defeating as it does not produce enough results. He told the Inside Sport show: "Arsenal is one of those teams that just plays beautiful football, but they don't get the points they want to. "To play beautiful football without points, is I don't think, worth it. "To be rough and get three points, or play well and get three points - win ugly or beautifully - I don't care." Essien had knee surgery in September and is set to be out for five months. The midfielder suffered the injury during Ghana's World Cup qualifier against Libya on 5 September. He has been a regular for Chelsea since his £24m move from Lyon in 2005, scoring 14 goals in 132 appearances. On Saturday, Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-1 at The Emirates, a result that leaves Arsene Wenger's side six points behind leaders Chelsea. Wenger's side last won a trophy in 2005 when Arsenal beat Manchester United on penalties to claim the FA Cup.

Man Utd still a danger - Lampard
Chelsea's Frank Lampard says Manchester United remain a massive Premier League title threat despite losing at Arsenal. Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now eight points adrift of the Blues, who are back on top of the table after beating Blackburn 2-0 at Ewood Park on Sunday. Midfielder Lampard said: "United will always be big contenders, whether they are five or eight points behind. "There is a slight gap opened up between the top two, but the big four just keep grinding out results." Chelsea, who have dropped just seven points and been beaten only once in the league this season, are top on goal difference from Liverpool, who crushed West Brom 3-0 at the weekend. A brace from Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea their victory at Rovers and made it six away wins out of six for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side. "It is a great, great start but if you lose your attitude or get a couple of bad results it can all turn around, so you have to keep playing well," added Lampard. Meanwhile, Lampard's team-mate Michael Essien believes Arsenal's stylish brand of football does not produce enough positive results despite Saturday's 2-1 win over Manchester United. The result leaves Arsene Wenger's side, who last won a trophy in 2005 when they beat Manchester United on penalties to win the FA Cup, in third place, six points behind the leaders. "Arsenal is one of those teams that just plays beautiful football, but they don't get the points they want to," Essien told BBC's Inside Sport show. "To play beautiful football without points is, I don't think, worth it. To be rough and get three points, or play well and get three points... win ugly or beautifully, I don't care." Essien is currently sidelined for five months after undergoing knee surgery in September. The midfielder, who has been a regular for Chelsea since his £24m move from Lyon in 2005, was injured during Ghana's World Cup qualifier against Libya on 5 September.

Drogba faces police and FA probes
Didier Drogba is facing police and FA investigations after throwing a coin into the crowd during Chelsea's Carling Cup fourth round defeat to Burnley. The Chelsea striker apologised for his actions which followed his 27th-minute goal but could still be in trouble. In a statement on Chelsea's website, Drogba said: "I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me. "The big mistake I did was to throw it back so if someone was hurt I just want to apologise for it." There were no reports of any spectators being injured. However, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Thursday that it is looking into the incident. A spokesman said: "An inquiry is being conducted by the Football Unit at Fulham police station. No-one has been arrested." The incident happened after the Ivory Coast forward put the Blues ahead in his first match since returning from injury. Drogba, 30, made a single-finger gesture before throwing a coin back into the Burnley section of the crowd. He said: "This is not something I should show in a football match. "It was an incident in the heat of the moment and I regret it. It was just a mistake and nothing more." A Chelsea spokesman said: "We will deal with this in the usual way. We are aware there is an incident. But we will not discuss it further until we have seen the referee's report." DIDIER DROGBA AT CHELSEA Appearances: 146 Goals: 81 Drogba in trouble: Nov 2008: Faces police and FA investigation for throwing coin at Burnley supporters May 2008: Red carded in Champions League final after slapping Man Utd defender Nemanja Vidic Sep 2007: Sent off in a Premier League match against Fulham Feb 2005: Dismissed against Barcelona at the Nou Camp Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "I have not spoken with Didier about any problem. The referee gave him a yellow card but I did not see what happened." Burnley manager Owen Coyle said he did not see the incident but the club have said they will investigate the matter. "Burnley Football Club is proud of the 6,100 supporters who made the trip to Stamford Bridge and offered magnificent vocal backing," the club said in a statement. "However, the club does not condone any misbehaviour from supporters and we will gladly co-operate with any inquiry into the incident, either from the FA or Chelsea Football Club." It was part of a miserable night for Premier League leaders Chelsea, who suffered a surprise exit 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. The FA may now decide to take action after examining referee Keith Stroud's report. In 2002, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was sent off in an FA Cup tie against Arsenal at Highbury after throwing a coin back into the crowd. He received a mandatory three-match ban. And Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, says a similar punishment should be handed out to Drogba. "It's there for all to see, he's done something that's against the rules required of players, and a similar situation resulted in a three-match ban for Carragher," he said. "So it would be very difficult to avoid an accusation that they (the FA) are inconsistent if they don't follow that line." Taylor added: "In fairness to the lad, he knows he's done wrong, he apologised immediately after the game, but this happened in the heat of the moment and unfortunately there will be consequences now." Drogba was also interviewed by police but no further action was taken. However, Carragher was fined by the club and warned about his future conduct. Meanwhile, former Chelsea forward and current West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has jumped to the defence of Drogba, saying that in pressure situations it is difficult to keep your cool. "If he has reacted then maybe he has been insulted and that is bad for football," said Zola. "The crowd has to respect the players as much as the players have to respect the crowd. "From what I know of him, he is a fair and honest player who gives everything on the pitch. "You have to understand we are human beings and when you are playing an important match you can lose your composure when you are under pressure." Zola added: "It is not easy, you are walking on the edge all the time but the secret is to not give these moments too much importance. "I have come close to reacting a couple of times, it is not easy to control when you are getting abuse so it is understandable."

Drogba banned for three matches
Chelsea's Didier Drogba has been banned for three matches for throwing a coin into a section of Burnley fans during their shock Carling Cup defeat. Drogba threw the coin after scoring in last Wednesday's game at Stamford Bridge and admitted a Football Association charge of violent conduct. An FA regulatory commission heard the case on Tuesday, looking at video evidence and written submissions. The 30-year-old striker's suspension takes effect immediately. The ban brings further disruption to a season that has seen the Ivory Coast international make just five league appearances due to a knee injury, and he will now miss games against Newcastle, Arsenal and Bolton. Drogba is also facing a police investigation into the incident, with the Metropolitan Police confirming last Thursday that officers were looking into it. The FA has also written to both Chelsea and Burnley to request information on a number of missiles thrown at Chelsea players from the Burnley section. An FA spokesman said: "Players should be able to play football without fearing for their personal safety. "It is totally unacceptable for players to be put in danger by supporters throwing missiles onto the pitch. DIDIER DROGBA AT CHELSEA Appearances: 146 Goals: 81 Drogba in trouble: Nov 2008: Faces police and FA investigation for throwing coin at Burnley supporters May 2008: Red carded in Champions League final after slapping Man Utd defender Nemanja Vidic Sep 2007: Sent off in a Premier League match against Fulham Feb 2005: Dismissed against Barcelona at the Nou Camp "The priority now is to work with the clubs and the police to identify the individuals involved. "The FA wants anyone found guilty of throwing missiles to face the strongest possible action. That includes life bans from attending football matches." Drogba made a single-finger gesture before throwing the coin back following his 27th-minute goal, but there have been no reports of any spectators being injured. Referee Keith Stroud told the FA he had booked Drogba for going towards the opposition supporters to celebrate, but had not seen him throw the coin. The Ivory Coast striker issued an immediate post-match apology. Jamie Carragher was handed a three-match ban when he was red-carded for a similar offence in 2002. Carragher was also interviewed by police but no further action was taken. However, he was fined by Liverpool and warned about his future conduct. "There are two sides to it," said Chelsea midfielder Lampard. "Didier's come out and there's been a reaction, a human reaction I have to say, which Jamie Carragher made once. "I was around Didier at the time and I don't know how many coins there were around. "I take quite a lot of corners and it's not unusual to get things thrown at you and lots of abuse, too, and I think it's got to a stage now where it's got to stop. "We've seen referees getting hit, too, so I think people have to take responsibility as a group." Chelsea issued a statement in response to the FA charge, admitting Drogba's actions had been "inexcusable" and promising full co-operation with the FA and the Metropolitan Police. "We welcome Burnley's assistance in trying to help identify the small minority of their support who spoiled a great occasion for their club," read the Chelsea statement. "Although Didier Drogba was hit by an object, that does not excuse his subsequent actions. "He also recognises that, has not sought to justify it that way, has sincerely expressed his regret and has apologised for the incident. "The matter will be dealt with internally by the club after the FA and police processes are completed."

Blues resolve Mikel case with Lyn
Chelsea have reached an agreement with Norwegian club Lyn Oslo in the dispute over the transfer of John Mikel Obi. The Blues had issued a High Court claim against Lyn and former chief executive Morgan Andersen in October in an effort to recoup the £16m they paid for Mikel. But a short statement on the Chelsea's website on Monday confirmed that the matter had been resolved out of court. "Chelsea and FC Lyn Oslo have resolved all matters between the two clubs with regard to John Mikel Obi," it read. "The terms of the agreement will remain confidential. There will be no further comment." In launching the high court bid, Chelsea had claimed the transfer was based on the "fraudulent misrepresentation that Mikel had an employment contract with Lyn". In June 2006 the Premier League club paid £4m to Lyn and £12m to Manchester United, who had a deal to sign Mikel in April 2005. But, following Andersen's criminal conviction in Norway, they wanted Mikel's transfer fee repaid. Before Mikel joined Chelsea, United had claimed they had signed him from Norwegian club Lyn but they later agreed to terminate their option agreement when the player made it clear he wanted to join the London club. Andersen, who had previous convictions for forging official documents, was later convicted of fraud and making false accusations by an Oslo court. He was given a one-year suspended jail sentence.

Blues drop Drogba for FA Cup tie
Didier Drogba's Chelsea future may be hanging in the balance after he was dropped from the squad for Wednesday's FA Cup third-round replay at Southend. The 30-year-old striker is the first major casualty following the 3-0 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday. "All the players have had their chance. I have given every player at least five or six games to impress," said Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. "I will give them their chance and I need answers." This season, Ivory Coast forward Drogba, who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, has looked a shadow of the player he once was. Drogba has scored 83 goals in all competitions for Chelsea since joining the Blues in 2004 but has found the net only three times in 17 games during the current campaign and is not even a member of the travelling squad to Roots Hall. Scolari will recall current Premier League top scorer Nicolas Anelka, who has not started the past three games, against Southend. "I have looked at many games with Anelka and at the last few with Didier," stated Scolari. "I have my opinion and I will put my opinion on the pitch every game. "Now we will start with one team against Southend United and maybe I will start with the same team against Stoke. "If I have given players only one chance then maybe some of the players will complain that they have only had one opportunity. "But when I have given four or five chances then there is no room for questions, it is my decision to play this or that player, and finish." Scolari has also given a damning verdict on his side's ability to win silverwear this season. "If you ask me if this team are ready to win things, then no," conceded the former Brazil coach. "They are not ready to win a trophy and they know this. They might not say things publicly but they know we are not ready. "In the last five games we played at 50% of our potential, no more than this. Some players have been at 75 to 80%, while others have been at 35-40% but the balance for our team in the last five games has been 50%. "Sometimes they make mistakes because they are not in a good condition but not because they do not want to play. "If this happened then they would be finished. I am a good man but I am not a fool." Scolari took the blame squarely on his own shoulders for Chelsea's loss at Manchester United on Sunday but said everyone at the club must now pull together if they are to bounce back. "We need more to work together and when it is wrong we need more togetherness," he said. The damaging defeat left Chelsea four points adrift of league leaders Liverpool and only a point ahead of United, who have two games in hand over their title rivals. "I understand people now don't have a very good opinion about me because we lost a game 3-0 against Manchester United. I know this but in my opinion, I am doing a good job," insisted Scolari. The defeat extended the Blues' current run of only three victories in their past 11 games in all competitions. It has also raised questions in the press about Scolari's position in west London. However, BBC sports editor Mihir Bose believes there is no chance of the Brazilian being sacked. "Scolari's position, the Chelsea hierarchy insists, is not in jeopardy," said Bose. Watch the whole Scolari news conference "But it is recognised that Scolari cannot carry on as he has so far. "What Scolari needs to do, say insiders, is be tough with the players. Show them who is boss. "One well-placed source told me: 'He has allowed his players to get on top of him. He needs to show he runs the team not the players, however well paid they may be or however high profile'." Scolari knows how important it is to turn around all of the negative publicity over the past few days and is confident his side will progress in the FA Cup. "It's the FA Cup. If our spirit is not the same as Southend's, then it's difficult, but if our spirit is the same then we have good chance because we have better players than Southend," he commented.

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