Chelsea in UAE: Scolari axe is good move

AL AIN - Former Chelsea and French star Marcel Desailly believes the dethroning of Luiz Felipe Scolari will result in a positive reaction from the players.

Speaking to XPRESS on the sidelines of the Etihad Airways Chelsea Soccer Schools clinic in Al Ain, the 1998 World Cup winner said: “Chelsea are still in good shape when it comes to being contenders for the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup and this decision will motivate the team to move forward.

“It's a positive move for sure.'' Desailly is still in line to take up an offer made by the Ghana football federation last year to coach their national side, but the Ghanaian-born Frenchman says he is not yet ready to take up the role.

“They offered me the job last year, but I didn't think I was ready. I need to develop the sport in that country first. “Maybe another two years down the line I will say yes, but it's definitely not going to be before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,'' he said. Unlike many of his peers, Desailly is not too critical of the performance of French coach Raymond Domenech, but instead believes it is the players who bear the responsibility.

“Yes, Domenech did make a few mistakes during Euro 2008, but it's not his fault alone. The players in the side did not rise up to the occasion.

They say France have talented young players like Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema, but it's not enough to be just talented, they have to take the responsibility as well.

Being young is not an excuse.'' he said. One man Desailly admires is his former AC Milan teammate Paolo Maldini who will be retiring in June. “He is really amazing and lucky. Lucky because he has always played at home and had his family around him all the time. That really helps you survive longer,'' he said.

Amicable solution: Both sides saw it coming

AL AIn Graeme Le Saux is a Chelsea man to the core and he had a lot to say about the club's decision to fire Luiz Felipe Scolari after seven months.

“I got the news when I stepped off the plane in Abu Dhabi. I was surprised, but talking to a couple of my friends in the club, I found that it was an amicable settlement, something that both knew was coming,'' he said.

Le Saux added that it was still somewhat of a mystery to him why Chelsea were not playing consistently well. “I was with them during the pre-season camp in China and they were really good. It started off well under Scolari, but I guess injuries to first Deco and then Bosignwa added to Scolari's woes.

“The form too has been very inconsistent, with the defence letting them down. In my opinion Scolari was good for the club, but you could sense that something was not right in the dressing room,'' he added. And the man who has played 36 times for England is happy for his countryman David Beckham to be back in the national squad. “I know for a fact that Capello wouldn't pick Beckham just for his brand value. Remember he left him out at Real Madrid.

So if Beckham is in the side, it is because he is playing well and deserves his place. “Even if he doesn't play the full 90 minutes, he can make a difference by coming off the bench with his knowledge and ability,'' he said.