You are in > manchester.com  > News > Chelsea timing in Portugal's firing line

General Sport

Chelsea timing in Portugal's firing line

20/06/2008

Chelsea have been attacked by Portuguese football officials over the timing of the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The Premier League runners-up announced Scolari as Avram Grant's successor as manager following Portugal's group A win over the Czech Republic.

Since then Portugal have failed to win a match; suffering a surprising dead rubber defeat to Switzerland before crashing out of the quarter-finals against Germany last night .

Portuguese Football Federation chief Gilberto Madail told journalists on Friday Chelsea's announcement had a destabilising affect on Portugal's chances.

"I wish Chelsea would have consulted us before so that we could have chosen a better time," Madail said, confirming initial reports the move had come as a shock to Portugal bosses.

"It wasn't the best moment for us for Chelsea to announce Scolari's appointment.

"I know Scolari had nothing to do with it and I was surprised, not by the appointment - because Scolari is a great coach - but at the timing chosen.

"I knew when we entered the tournament that Scolari would leave. We respected his wishes. His cycle with Portugal had ended because he wanted a new experience with a club.

"There was nothing we could do. It was a financial issue and we couldn't match Chelsea's offer."

Madail added Scolari's five-year reign as coach had made a "huge impact" on Portuguese football.

He praised the Brazilian as a "spectacular coach" after he took the team to the final of Euro 2004, the semi-finals of the World Cup and the quarter-finals in Austria/Switzerland.