Scolari not fazed by shootout with Europe´s big guns

AFP - 9 December 2008 22:55

Chelsea´s Didier Drogba (R) celebrates after scoring against CFR Cluj during their Champions League Group A match at Stamford Bridge in London. Chelsea won 2-1.

LONDON (AFP) - Luiz Felipe Scolari insists he doesn't care who Chelsea play in the Champions League second round even though his side's failure to win their group could lead to a shootout with one of Europe's big guns.

The Blues survived a nervous display against CFR Cluj on Tuesday to claim a 2-1 win which guaranteed their progress into the last 16, but Roma's victory over Bordeaux meant Chelsea only qualified as Group A runners-up.

As one of the eight second placed teams, Chelsea will be pitted against a group winner in the draw on December 19 and that could mean they face the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or French champions Lyon.

A showdown with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, now at Inter Milan, was avoided after the Italians also finished second but there are plenty of perilous ties in wait for last season's runners-up.

Yet Scolari subscribes to the theory that if you want to win Europe's top club prize you have to beat the best at some point, so why not start straight away.

"I don't choose the teams we play. For me it is not different if I play Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan or anyone because they are all the best," Scolari said.

"If we want to arrive in the final we need to beat A, B and C. We are second. Now we will wait to see what happens in the draw."

Chelsea's chances of advancing in the competition could hinge on Scolari's ability to keep Didier Drogba fit and motivated for the rest of the season.

Drogba came off the bench to end Cluj's stubborn resistance with just his second goal of a campaign marred by his coin-throwing antics and reports of a secret meeting with Inter Milan officials.

Yet despite his sometimes wayward nature, the powerful Ivory Coast forward gives Scolari an entirely different kind of threat to Nicolas Anelka.

Although Anelka is the Premier League's top scorer this season, Chelsea have often looked toothless without Drogba and it was the same again on Tuesday as the Romanian minnows dug in.

Drogba's arrival immediately unsettled Cluj and his fine finish from Joe Cole's pass was just reward for his impact.

Now Scolari knows he has to work out a way to harness Drogba alongside Anelka.

"All the people know Drogba is a great player. He didn't have a pre-season and when he started to play he got injured, then he was suspended. Now it is his time," he said.

"It is important for me because he is one of the best in the world and I have more options. If there are no injuries I have a chance to play a different system.

"But don't forget we qualified in Europe and reached second position in the Premier League with Anelka. Drogba is very important but I need to think about Anelka. I need to say he is as important as Drogba.

"In 20 minutes with Drogba and Anelka sometimes we lost the middle because we are not complete. I need to train them to know who goes to the middle."

After an error-strewn first half against Cluj, Chelsea took the lead when Salomon Kalou controlled Deco's free-kick and lashed in from close-range.

Yet Maurizio Trombetta's team refused to cave in and stunned the Bridge when Yssouf Kone headed home early in the second half.

At that point Chelsea could have gone out if Bordeaux had beaten Roma, but the French club lost and Drogba struck seven minutes after coming on.

Defeat left Cluj bottom of the group but Trombetta is convinced they will be stronger after their first Champions League campaign.

"In the future with this Champions League experience the players and club can grow. It is very useful for everybody," he said.