Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed disagreements with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka contributed to his sacking as Chelsea manager.
The 72-year-old Brazilian coach replaced Avram Grant in 2008 – but within seven months he was shown the exit.
Scolari’s short stint in west London has been attributed to a sour relationship he had with both strikers.
The plan was for Scolari to create a line-up that would allow both Drogba and Anelka to flourish in the attack but that became some what impossible for the coach.
“I had a form of leadership that clashed with one or two players,’ Scolari told Yellow and Green Football.
When asked to specify which players in particular he was referring to, he pointed the finger at Anelka and Drogba.
One of the disagreements with Drogba arose when the Ivorian was sidelined through injury.
Anelka thrived while Drogba was readily unavailable and when both were available for Scolari, Anelka was the league’s leading goalscorer with 19.
Scolari said: “Anelka was the top scorer in the league. We had a meeting and Anelka said, “I only play in one position”. So, there was a bit of a lack of friendship, of respect, of trying to play together with Drogba.
“That was when it changed a bit. But we’ve met since then, me and Drogba. The last time was in Russia in 2018. We spoke openly about it.
“There wasn’t any ill intention from him or Anelka. But it happened and I lost out on one of the great chances of my life.’
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti succeeded where his predecessor had failed, managing to convince Anelka and Drogba that they could co-exist in attack.
Chelsea went on to win the Double in that season with both strikers in fine form.
Scolari has since managed clubs in Brazil, China and Uzbekistan as well as heading up the Brazilian national team for their home World Cup in 2014.
