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Chelsea's players could be in for a shock tomorrow when they start training under new manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari.
It was widely perceived that the players were effectively running team affairs during Avram Grant's nine months in charge, and a number of incidents suggested standards of off-field discipline had slipped. Those who have worked with Scolari insist that is all over.
"He is very demanding with discipline," said Adilson, manager of Brazilian side Cruzeiro, who played for Scolari at Gremio and Jubilo Iwata, in Japan, and then served his apprenticeship as a coach under him at Cruzeiro. "His great strength is his authority and his ability to command the group."
Like Mourinho, Scolari inspires a ferocious loyalty, provided his players toe the line and play to expectations. "Scolari knows how to mould a squad very easily," said Euller, a forward who was part of the Palmeiras side Scolari led to their first Copa Libertadores title. He added: "Dealing with famous players is not a problem for him."
Like Mourinho, he holds no truck with players he feels are not giving their all. The case of Marcos is typical. When the regular keeper Velloso was injured, Scolari turned to Marcos during Palmeiras's run to the Libertadores in 1999.
Relationship turns
He was superb in the penalty shoot-out victory over Palmeiras's great rivals Corinthians in the quarterfinal, and played so well for the rest of the season that he earned a call-up to the national squad.
They had a close relationship but, the next year, Marcos pulled out of a league game in Brazil, citing injury, even though the club doctors had cleared him. Scolari told the press Marcos wasn't playing because he didn't feel like it. The keeper apologised and never stepped out of line again.
Not to be crossed
Scolari picked the striker Romario for his first game as Brazil manager in 2001, a friendly against Uruguay. Amid rumours that he had enjoyed a wild night before the game, Romario played poorly, Brazil lost 1-0 and Scolari never selected him again.
Before the 2002 World Cup, with Ronaldo out of form, Rivaldo struggling with an ankle injury, Ronaldinho being ostracised for leaving Gremio on a free transfer and Romario using every contact to lobby for a squad place, Scolari stood firm. "He fought the whole country in not picking Romario," said Euller.
The signing of Deco is hardly indicative of a shift to negativity. Deco is very much a Scolari player. He famously filled in at right-back in Portugal's Euro 2004 quarterfinal win over England.
-The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2008
"Scolari knows how to mould a squad very easily," said Euller, a forward who was part of the Palmeiras side Scolari led to their first Copa Libertadores title. He added: "Dealing with famous players is not a problem for him."
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