Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has played down reports of a row with Nicolas Anelka.
Chelsea boss happy with French striker
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has played down reports of a row with Nicolas Anelka.
The Frenchman has been a regular starter for Chelsea this season but he was left out against Manchester United at the weekend as Scolari opted to go with Didier Drogba.
Anelka came on as a substitute in the second half but there have been suggestions that he has fallen out with Scolari over the decision.
Scolari maintains there is no problem, although he is looking to give Drogba an extended run in the side because he does not feel the two can play together.
"There has been no row with me," he said. "It is my choice sometimes - this or that player.
"I have 24 good players but only two centre-forwards. One is playing and not the other.
"Everybody thinks it is easy to play two strikers because they are good. But I try to prove to the people and for me, and Chelsea, that is difficult.
"When one player is outside, as was Didier Drogba, he needs to play two, three or four games, and in that time I need to look at what's happened. Afterwards I have to decide. It is my option."
Scolari has no plans to venture into the transfer market but will not stand in the way of any player who wants to leave Stamford Bridge.
He explained: "I will say it one more time. I don't want players.
"If a player does not want to stay at Chelsea now is the time (to leave). Send a club here and finish."
Backing
Scolari does not believe any of his men will be looking to move on as he insists he has the backing of all his players.
"I think I have the squad behind me," declared Scolari. "We are all in the same boat. If Chelsea lose a game it is not only Scolari, it is the Chelsea team.
"There is not a problem with the spirit. It is a problem of mistakes not spirit."
Scolari is concerned by the way in which Chelsea are conceding goals and will revert to a zonal marking system in Wednesday's FA Cup clash with Southend.
"It is a problem because we give teams chances to score by set-plays," he admitted.
"We are training on this every day, 10 times 20 times, 50 times. We need to change and I will change for tomorrow.
"I have changed the system to zonal and not man-to-man.
"The responsibility now is for the group and not one man. But if we talk about the mistakes all the time, maybe we make more mistakes."
