Wenger - Coach exit hurt Portugal

Arsenal boss ready to pit wits against new Chelsea chief

Last updated: 26th June 2008

Wenger - Coach exit hurt Portugal

Scolari: Quality man

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Arsene Wenger expects Luiz Felipe Scolari to add something to the Premier League, but feels the timing of his appointment as Chelsea manager affected Portugal's Euro 2008 campaign.

Scolari will take over as Chelsea boss on 1st July after the Premier League runners-up announced the Brazilian as Avram Grant's replacement a fortnight ago.

The news was announced by the Stamford Bridge club in the hours after Portugal had beaten Czech Republic 3-1 in their second group match at Euro 2008 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

However, a much-changed team then lost to co-hosts Switzerland before Portugal were beaten 3-2 by tournament favourites Germany in the last eight.

The Portuguese Football Federation were unhappy with the timing of Chelsea's announcement and Wenger believes it impacted on the national team.

The Arsenal boss, though, is looking forward to seeing how Scolari will cope with coaching in the Premier League next season.

Quality man

"It [the announcement] is difficult to measure, but what is for sure is that it doesn't give something to the team, it only takes it away," said Wenger in The Independent. "It doesn't help.

"We had that situation with [France coach] Jacques Santini saying to Tottenham [he would join after Euro 2004]. The speculation was there.

"Then it starts, 'Who will be the next manager?' in the newspapers. And when it starts in the newspapers it starts in the players' camp.

"I like Scolari as a person and as a coach. He can bring something to the Premier League. You never know what will happen, but he is a quality man and manager.

"The system he plays looks similar to the 4-5-1/4-3-3 system that Chelsea play. Whether it is down to the fact that they have similar strikers, I don't know.

"There will be a change, because every manager brings his own personality and he will buy players, but the system won't change."