Is It Really Just Tactics?
Luiz Felipe Scolari has finally held his hands up about what’s going on with Chelsea – it’s his tactics!
Ahead of our game against Southend tonight, Scolari says “I need to change some systems and I need to start from new. It’s more my mistake than the players. We need more to work together and when something is wrong we need more attention, more togetherness. After one victory or two or three we will relax and win more. For Southend it’s the game of the year. We need to think the same way as them. It’s the FA Cup. If our spirit is not the same as Southend, then it’s difficult, but if our spirit is the same then we have good chance because we are better players than Southend. But we need to prove it on the pitch.”
Whilst he might have previously suggested it is our ability to be clinical up front that makes life difficult for us, after Sunday’s game, Scolari accepts we were left wanting in defence as well, stating “What has happened is a lesson for us. It is a problem because we give chances for all teams to score goals from set plays. What has happened in the last three or four games has not been good. We have done well in 25 games and not well in five. I need to change something. I have changed the system to zonal and not man-to-man. The responsibility is for the group and not one man. But if we talk about the mistakes all the time, maybe we make more mistakes. Mentally it is a problem. We lost many points from set-plays and mistakes. Now is the time to talk with the players about what is happening.”
Mind you, yet again in this interview, Scolari reiterated the club’s stance in the transfer window, confirming there will be no new players coming to Stamford Bridge in the near future. What worried me more though was him suggesting that if there’s any players at the club who want to leave this month, then they can. And with our squad already depleted beyond all recognition for the first time since Abramovich arrived, I can’t help thinking we’ll be playing our bloody backroom staff before long!
Filed under: Rants
Whether or not it really is Scolari’s tactics which are the issue, or perhaps the players having no motivation, I commend our gaffer for stepping up and handling the pressure. It shows a lot about his character to take the blame, and I think he has the knowledge to make it right.
I’d heard that he was a tough coach, and it is nice to see this hard edged side coming out now when the going is getting tough. Dropping Drogba is a great start, with his lack of effort evident in the United game. I am all for getting rid of him completely, but we’ll see what happens with that.
Come on Scolari! The season is far from over, let’s give some of these young boys a chance, who are hungry to prove themselves!