SCOLARI HOPING TO FIRE UP ANELKA
Luiz Felipe Scolari is hopeful that he can turn shy Nicolas Anelka into a goal machine for Chelsea. The Brazilian manager, who takes charge of his first game for the Blues on Sunday against Portsmouth, will make Anelka his main striker in the absence of injured Didier Drogba.
The French international, who has been in fine goal-scoring form in pre-season, cost £12m when he signed from Bolton in January, but he only scored twice in 24 appearances as the Blues came second in the Premier League and lost out in the Champions League and Carling Cup finals. But Scolari is hopeful that, with some confidence, the 29-year-old can fire Chelsea to glory.
"Maybe this is the season for Anelka," said the 59-year-old former Portgual manager. "He will be our centre-forward against Portsmouth. He has played well in the friendlies, has shown good speed and has switched position very well.
"But sometimes he is a different player - he is quiet and timid. And we need to put fire in Anelka. We need to tell him that he is very good and that he should go and try. I need to work more with him to get the best out of him. I need to help him in the head, because he has some good qualities."
Scolari, who managed his native Brazil to World Cup success in 1994, also believes that Chelsea centre-back John Terry, who led England in 14 games under Steve McClaren, should be given the nod to captain Fabio Capello's national team. The Italian is due to name his permanent skipper on Tuesday, the day before England's friendly with the Czech Republic.
"[If he were to select Terry as captain,] I would say to my friend Capello: 'Very good choice'," Scolari continued. "It would be a fantastic choice if he made John Terry captain. He is a captain for Chelsea and I think he must again captain England. He helps the manager and the players by saying the right things on and off the field."
Luiz Felipe Scolari is hopeful that he can turn shy Nicolas Anelka into a goal machine for Chelsea. The Brazilian manager, who takes charge of his first game for the Blues on Sunday against Portsmouth, will make Anelka his main striker in the absence of injured Didier Drogba.
The French international, who has been in fine goal-scoring form in pre-season, cost £12m when he signed from Bolton in January, but he only scored twice in 24 appearances as the Blues came second in the Premier League and lost out in the Champions League and Carling Cup finals. But Scolari is hopeful that, with some confidence, the 29-year-old can fire Chelsea to glory.
"Maybe this is the season for Anelka," said the 59-year-old former Portgual manager. "He will be our centre-forward against Portsmouth. He has played well in the friendlies, has shown good speed and has switched position very well.
"But sometimes he is a different player - he is quiet and timid. And we need to put fire in Anelka. We need to tell him that he is very good and that he should go and try. I need to work more with him to get the best out of him. I need to help him in the head, because he has some good qualities."
Scolari, who managed his native Brazil to World Cup success in 1994, also believes that Chelsea centre-back John Terry, who led England in 14 games under Steve McClaren, should be given the nod to captain Fabio Capello's national team. The Italian is due to name his permanent skipper on Tuesday, the day before England's friendly with the Czech Republic.
"[If he were to select Terry as captain,] I would say to my friend Capello: 'Very good choice'," Scolari continued. "It would be a fantastic choice if he made John Terry captain. He is a captain for Chelsea and I think he must again captain England. He helps the manager and the players by saying the right things on and off the field."
Labels: Chelsea, John Terry, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Nicolas Anelka, Premier League
