Last updated: 7th August 2008
Scolari: Talks tactics
Luiz Felipe Scolari has spoken of his delight with his Chelsea side as he puts the finishing touches on their pre-season preparations.
The Blues are back on the training ground following their Asian tour and Brazilian boss Scolari is relishing working with a set of players he has described as 'brilliant'.
And he believes fine tuning setpieces in particular could give his side a slight but crucial advantage as the season draws ever closer.
He told ChelseaTV: "I need to work more on free-kicks because on the tour I did not have the chance to work with this.
"Now I want more options for the players, for the team, and this area is my focus."
Former Portugal boss Scolari has completed a month in his new job following Euro 2008 and is happy with the progress he has made in that time.
"Now I have more confidence," he said. "I play four games and I know more my players. These two weeks with the players are very important to me.
"I know very well the players now, their reactions. I have had one month with the players, every day together. Now I have more choice than before."
Scolari also hailed the attitude of his players, adding: "They surprise me in one question - they are very professional. I never saw in my life players more professional than these players. Brilliant."
Despite winning the Premier League title twice under Jose Mourinho, Chelsea were often criticised for a negative style of play.
That continued under Avram Grant last season but in revealing his tactical plans, Scolari implied that may not be the case this season - while the 59-year-old is also likely to prove one of the more colourful Premier League managers.
"(On the tour) I started three games as 4-4-2 and at half-time I changed to 4-3-3 - which was normal for Chelsea before - and I looked for the reaction from the team.
"I will try in the next 10 days one new system for a few moments in each game. But normal for us now is 4-4-2 and 4-3-3. They play not bad and I think this is the situation in the future.
"I am involved with the training and in the games I talk with the players and I talk with the bench.
"It's difficult for me only to look, see and not say something, and they accept this and I think they are receptive."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
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