Interim Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink is adamant that he will be leaving at the end of the season to concentrate on the Russia job.

Chelsea fans who had been hoping the Dutchman would decide to stay must now start contemplating a fourth manager in two years.

Frank Rijkaard is unemployed and the style of football his Barcelona side managed when winning the Champions League in 2006 would definitely go down well at the Bridge, especially after some dour displays in recent times.

On the downside, the Dutchman had a little run in with Chelsea when they met Barca in Europe a few years back while his agent has said he is enjoying a break from the game.

Roberto Mancini also has great pedigree and would seem available having been sacked by Inter Milan at the end of last season despite leading them to a third straight scudetto. (more…)

From our main soccer site:

If John Terry had remained upright for half a second more on a soggy Moscow night in May then Avram Grant would probably still be battling for honours on all fronts as Chelsea manager.

As it was, the England centre-half went flying and sent his penalty wide, minutes later Manchester United were crowned European champions and Chelsea’s wait to get their name on the trophy went on.

Grant was immediately sent packing.

His replacement, Luiz Felipe Scolari, was sacked on Monday after seven months as the impatience, some might call it breathtaking arrogance, of the modern game’s big clubs returned to the spotlight.

There is only one Champions League trophy and one domestic league for these mighty businesses to chase but when they are not secured, and sometimes even when they are, the reaction is often to rip it all up and start again with a new man. (more…)

Chelsea have sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari after just over half a season in charge.

“Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club with immediate effect,” a statement said on www.chelseafc.com.

Some would say it is out of the blue but others might not be so surprised. On the day Portsmouth also axed Tony Adams, it just goes to show the pressure on clubs in modern football.

Chelsea have been on a bad run for their standards but it is a big risk to switch coaches just weeks before their Champions League last 16 tie with Juventus.

PHOTO: A combination of file pictures shows Luiz Felipe Scolari watching Chelsea against Manchester United during their Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, Sept. 21, 2008. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez 

Chelsea gear up for an easy-looking FA Cup tie at home to Ipswich Town this weekend knowing the match will be anything but given their recent form.

The crushing 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester United recently was just one of a string of lacklustre performances and while their struggles may come as a shock to many, United boss Alex Ferguson saw this coming some time ago.

Looking into his crystal ball last July, a month before the new Premier League season had started, Ferguson boldly stated that new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari had inherited a Chelsea squad which had already peaked and that progress was unlikely.

This season’s performances include six draws and three defeats in the league, while they were losing 1-0 at home to Stoke City last weekend before late goals gave then a 2-1 win. (more…)

The immediate future of Chelsea, and their Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is about as clear as the fog that almost led to the postponement of their FA Cup replay at Southend United on Wednesday.

Although many insiders believe there is little real prospect of the World Cup winning coach leaving Stamford Bridge despite fans’ disgruntlement, there is plenty that needs to be put right if Chelsea are to end the season basking in the sunlight.

The confusion in west London though, is not just centred on what tactics 60-year-old Scolari should employ and who might actually be playing for or leaving the team.

Off the field there are continuing, unsettling rumours about whether Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, the man who has bankrolled the club’s most successful period since their formation in 1905, is still in love with the boys in blue. (more…)

Chelsea are struggling to score goals but manager Luiz Felipe Scolari says he can’t accommodate both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba in the same team.

Scolari’s outstanding record as a coach of club and national teams means that us little people should think twice, or more, before questioning his tactics.

But when the team is booed off the pitch, as they were after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, it is surely fair to ask if it’s time for a change of approach.

Drogba has hardly played this season due to injury and suspension and the fans were desperate to have him back leading the line.

In last week’s Champions League game against Cluj he came on midway through the second half with the teams level at 1-1 and within six minutes had scored the well-taken winner that guaranteed the club’s progress into the knockout stage.

On Sunday he was introduced at halftime and…six minutes later provided the neat flick to Frank Lampard that opened the way for Anelka’s equaliser.

Asked afterwards if he would consider starting with the “dangerous” pairing up front, Scolari said it was dangerous at both ends, saying the change of balance leaves his midfield too exposed.

When that midfield contains world class talents such as Lampard, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole, there should surely be a system that allows the club to get their two best forwards on the pitch together.

PHOTO: Chelsea’s Didier Drogba against Burnley during their English League Cup match at Stamford Bridge, Nov. 12, 2008. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty

Defeat to Arsenal means Luiz Felipe Scolari is facing his first big test as Chelsea manager and there are plenty of people waiting to see how the volatile Brazilian handles it.

Until a few weeks ago everything was sweetness and light at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea set the pace in the Premier League title race. They were scoring goals for fun and Scolari was seen as a breath of fresh air with his jovial manner.

The cracks are now starting to appear, however, as results turn sour. Last week he said he would have to go back to Brazil if Chelsea failed to make the last 16 of the Champions League.

The 1-1 draw with Bordeaux, in which they were dreadful, means they still have work to do on that front when CFR Cluj come to London next week.

Most worryingly for Scolari, what was once a fortress at Stamford Bridge under previous managers Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant is suddenly looking a little flimsy. (more…)

Chelsea seemed to do just about everything right in their Champions League victory over Bordeaux this week but new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was not overly impressed.

Check out the latest Vlog on the Pitch as Owen Wyatt and Jon Bramley try to work out why the Brazilian was so underwhelmed.

Was Scolari over-critical? What is Ray Wilkins going to bring to the party? And who do you fancy for the weekend clash between Chelsea and United?

Let us know in the comments, or record a video of your own and we’ll embed it here…