Scolari gave his press conference early yesterday evening:

"First of all I would like to close up a topic that has already been concluded by both parts.  I want to talk about the relationship I have with the Portuguese football federation. I have to work with them until the end of this championship.”

Scolari went on by being surprisingly frank on the financial aspects of his salary with the Portuguese Football Federation with respect to Chelsea.  His current salary with Portugal is around £1.75m compared to the £5.5m a year he will receive at Chelsea:

“People were aware of what was happening, especially the president of the Portuguese Football Federation [Gilberto Madail]. We looked for solutions with sponsors but some sponsors didn’t give their acceptance. We wanted to get a similar proposal but none of them won [out]. So I was told I was free to negotiate with other parties and I negotiated.”

The Portuguese Football federation themselves doubled Scolari´s previous salary when they offered him  the job from when he was Brazil coach but predictably, some of the media have not provided the full quotes on this matter, preferring to go for the “Chelsea mercenary” angle, but here is how he closed on the financial topic:

“Money does matter but it wasn’t the only reason. I’m 59 and I will be 60 soon and I don’t want to be technical coach forever. I want to work for five more years and then I want to retire. You only get an opportunity once so take it or leave it.”

"I've got a family; other possibilities are opened up for me.  I might offer my eldest son or my youngest son the opportunity to come with me and study.”

"I have never previously worked for any team for five and a half years. Five and a half years is a record!”

"Sometimes it is good to change things, its positive. So I didn't decide on the change only because we couldn't get the sums right."

Scolari is now in the top 3 highest paid managers in the world – sandwiched between Mourinho at Inter on £7m and Wenger at Arsenal on £4.5m – not bad for someone who used to work as a petrol pump attendant is it?!

The new Chelsea manager was also offered more money to take the England job:

“I was offered another position before the 2006 World Cup and some Portuguese people didn’t like that situation. It is a cultural thing. We have difficulty accepting that a coach might have another contract that starts after [Euro 2008] but for the time being he is still working hard for his team.”

Scolari does speak English (despite what Chelsea hating Clive Tyldesley wants us all to believe) and was asked about a possible language barrier between himself and his new charges:

“I speak English with my players. I speak German, Italian, Spanish, you name it. There is only one language in football.”  

And who is Scolari the man?  What’s he like?

“You have to ask my wife. She knows more than I do. I like to play, I like to make jokes and I like to work with my players in a good atmosphere. I feel comfortable anywhere in the world because I can establish good relationships with people around me."

“I don’t like high society, I’m not someone who likes to go to parties and socialise, and I’m shy.”

My own impression of Scolari is that he is like a rougher version of Mourinho – so we could see quite a few sparks fly next season! 

What about club football after so long on the International scene?

"I spent my life coaching clubs. I know all the ins and outs of coaching clubs. It's no problem to me."

"I think I'm a good manager, relatively good - The results of the squads I've coached speak for themselves. I have got my weak points but can't tell you my pluses or minuses. Ask the players I have worked with.”

Scolari was modest about the difficulty for Portugal to find a coach good enough to take over from him:

"Maybe the president and directors will find someone to replace me, someone who is a great coach who can do even a better job than I did,"

"I hope they find this person. Zico is a great coach and has a great personality. Maybe he's one of the candidates to replace me."

"It will not be hard to find a replacement for me because Portugal have a wonderful team. Whoever takes over will carry on with the work that has been well prepared."

Scolari then closed the press conference by reiterating his desire to focus on the Portuguese national team and not to discuss Chelsea whilst Portugal continue to participate in Euro 2008.

"I'm working until the end (of the Euros).  We have a very good atmosphere, the relationship is great.”

"I adore everything I have been doing up to now. I like the players more and more as time goes by.” 

"And I feel very strongly for the Portuguese people, I am very fond of them. The only thing that will change will be the country I am based in. Let's put a final stop to it.”

"I don't want to talk about the future; I'm only talking about the present."

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• 'Big Phil' Takes over on 1st July 2008
• Its All Falling Into Place

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS