Sackings shocked Wenger

Gunners chief felt Adams and Scolari deserved more time

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 13th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sackings shocked Wenger

Wenger: Adams support

Related links

Teams

Also see

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Portsmouth and Chelsea were too hasty in sacking Tony Adams and Luiz Felipe Scolari this week.

Adams bit the bullet after just 106 days in charge at Fratton Park while Scolari lasted seven months at Chelsea after replacing Avram Grant last summer.

Wenger is the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League having been Arsenal boss for over 12 years and has overseen the most successful period in the club's history.

Adams won the league title twice under Wenger and the French coach is confident his former captain has the ability to become a successful manager too.

Big decision

"I believe that Tony will be a very good manager and I don't believe he was given the needed time," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"It is a big surprise that they made a big decision so quickly because when they made the decision to give him the job they knew he has worked there for a year-and-a-half and they knew him.

"When you give a young manager that much responsibility you have to give him time."

While Adams has limited experience as a first-team boss, Scolari led Brazil to World Cup glory and Portugal to the Euro 2004 final before stepping into the Chelsea hotseat.

Yet not even that was enough to buy the Brazilian coach more time at the Blues' helm and Wenger admits his departure came as a big shock.

Massive surprise

Jose Mourinho and Grant have also been sacked by Chelsea within the last 17 months but if anyone can steady the ship at Stamford Bridge, Wenger believes Dutch trouble-shooter Guus Hiddink could be the man for the job.

"Scolari is a well-known manager and was only given six months," he said.

"It is difficult to know what the atmosphere inside the club is when you don't live there every day, but it is still a massive surprise.

"However, you know when one super manager is sacked at Chelsea, another super manager will come in.

"I rate Hiddink highly. He has been tremendously successful everywhere. He has had a long career and he's a strong personality."

Wenger is now set to battle it out with Hiddink in the race for the four Champions League places.

Chelsea's poor form has allowed Aston Villa to climb to third, with the Blues now only five points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal.

"I believe [we should] focus on our way to be successful and not too much on the others," Wenger added.

"We need outstanding performances until the end of the season and the only way to achieve that is by focusing on our performances.

"If Chelsea gain points Aston Villa will drop, it is all linked together - but if we are consistent we will be there."

Click Here for Your Free Bet