Scolari wants SWP to stay

Winger says he is happy at Chelsea

Last updated: 27th July 2008

Scolari wants SWP to stay

Wright-Phillips: Portsmouth link

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Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wants Shaun Wright-Phillips to stay after reports linking the winger to Portsmouth.

The England player has struggled to consistently hold down a place in the Chelsea starting line-up after his £21 million switch from Manchester City in July 2005.

He has now been linked with Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth but Scolari has insisted he wants him to stay and fight for his place.

He was making his comments on the latest stage of Chelsea's tour of Asia and Russia which saw them outclass Chengdu Blades 7-0, with Wright-Phillips netting a fluke goal to reward an outstanding performance.

Happy

Scolari said: "I have spoken to Shaun today at training and he is happy at Chelsea.

"If he wants to leave the decision is not only for me but also for the board.

"Shaun has done a good job up to now, the other players love him and so do my team."

Scolari, meanwhile, has already identified the key group of players who he will build his team around for the important games of the up-coming campaign.

With three games of the Blues' tour of Asia and Russia remaining, he wants other players to step up and earn their place in the side to face Portsmouth in the opening Premier League fixture.

Some ideas

He said: "I have some ideas but I need to train more with the team over the next three games.

"I have in my mind one idea for the team to play against Portsmouth, but until then I want to see how the players train. I have a minimum of 75 per cent of the team in my mind but I need to know the other 25 per cent.

"I know who my key players are. I have had 15 days with them and I know who is important for us to play more games than other players.

"You need to build a team around a few players in essential positions for important games and I now know who they are."