It's Chellsea! Scolari warns next manager as Abramovich targets German Loew

Former Chelsea chief Luiz Felipe Scolari has predicted the club's next manager will go through 'hell'. 

The Brazilian, who was fired by owner Roman Abramovich in February 2009, also believes Andre Villas-Boas' successor will have to bring in eight new players to make the club successful again. 

All smiles: Di Matteo and Newton will look after first-team affairs at Chelsea

Chelsea were linked with Germany manager Joachim Loew, 52, but denied formal talks had taken place in Switzerland with the man who plotted England's 4-1 humiliation in the World Cup. 

Scolari said: 'It will be hell for whoever succeeds him. The move to sack Villas-Boas is strange, but not so strange to me because of what I went through there. Some things are known, like the relations with the owner and his relationship with some of the players. 

Making his point: Loew has been linked to the vacant Chelsea post

'Villas-Boas is a champion and will continue to be. He needed to replace at least seven or eight players, even since I was there, but he failed.' 

Villas-Boas was fired on Sunday less than 24 hours after Chelsea lost 1-0 to West Bromwich at The Hawthorns.

Warning: Scolari say the next Chelsea manager will need to buy eight new players

 

None of the players and only a handful of training ground staff spoke to him after he was dismissed. 

He has been replaced by his assistant  Roberto Di Matteo, who has brought in former Chelsea midfielder Eddie Newton to help him. 

Abramovich is already considering a long-term replacement and has been aware for some time that Jose Mourinho will only consider a return if he is given 'total control' of transfers and the training ground. 

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Di Matteo claimed his promotion to become interim manager was  a shock. The Italian said: 'It has been a very difficult 24 hours. Andre has brought some very good, positive ideas and changes to this club and we will benefit from his changes. 

'I enjoyed very much working with him and we will remain friends for the rest of our lives. 

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'I have mostly spoken to the players individually to try to get them in the right frame of mind. 

'Eddie knows the club and many of the players. He is a Chelsea man and I want some passion from people who care about this club.'