Scolari ready for Chelsea challenge

New role
Chelsea announced during UEFA EURO 2008™ that the 59-year-old Brazilian would leave his post as Portugal coach after the tournament to succeed Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge. Speculation has been rife that midfielder Lampard and striker Drogba would be leaving the UEFA Champions League runners-up, but Scolari is confident both will stay.

Lampard praise
"I met Frank Lampard yesterday and I told him that I like him very much as a player and as a person and I asked him if he wants to stay at Chelsea, not only this season but longer," Scolari said. "And within 15 minutes he said that he wants to stay and play for Chelsea for many years. I was very happy as I think Chelsea needs Lampard." Asked if Drogba would also remain, Scolari added: "Two hundred per cent! I like him. Last season or two years ago I voted him one of the best players in the world and two or three years ago I chose John Terry. Now they are with me, I am happy!"

Honours
Since first becoming a coach with CS Alagoano in 1982, Scolari has led clubs in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan and Brazil, taking both Grêmio FBPA and SE Palmeiras to victory in the Copa Libertadores. He was appointed Brazil manager in 2001 and won the FIFA World Cup the following year. In five years in charge of Portugal he reached the UEFA EURO 2004™ final, 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals and UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-finals, and is now looking forward to his first attempts at the UEFA Champions League and English Premier League.

'New challenge'
"It is a new challenge for me in my life," he said. "It is a difficult challenge. I don't think in my life I have had an opportunity like the one that Chelsea have given to me now. I know everything about football in England and I have a good staff with me. They have provided me with everything and I am ready to start my job at Chelsea and in England." Scolari is not worried about returning to club management after seven years as a national coach. "I think it is not difficult for me," he said. "In the national team you have the players three days a month, in clubs you work with them every day and you know more than in a national team. If a player has grown up or not, if he has learned or not, if he tries or not."

Pressure
He is also unconcerned by the fact that, as he himself admits, he has a duty to win trophies at the Roman Abramovich-funded club, whose squad include new signings Deco and Bosingwa plus two of his other former Portugal charges, Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho. "It was harder [when I began to coach] Brazil as at that time we were in a bad situation; Chelsea are in a good situation and I have arrived at the start of the season," Scolari said. "The only pressure for me so far is to speak in English!"