In the run up to today’s game against United, Scolari has been quick to praise the opposition. Not that that’s something the press were all that interested in reporting of course, they were far too busy enjoying the start of a beautiful friendship between Wenger and Fergie.
However, there was one throw away remark the media boys seemed much more interested to pick up on – and naturally blow out of all proportion – and that was a bit of kidology regarding a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. You see, whilst praising Ronaldo and crediting Manchester United for the player’s progress, Scolari threw in a comment about having him at Chelsea next season.
During his little chat with the press, Scolari stated “Cristiano will leave Old Trafford one day. He won’t play 50 years for United. Maybe he’ll play seven, eight or ten years in Manchester and then finish his career. If he goes to another club, whether in one year or two years, I don’t know. I don’t know what happened this season or what will happen next season.
“Cristiano is one of the best three players in the world. When I was at Portugal, I had to choose three players every year [for the Fifa World Player of the Year award]. One year I chose Didier Drogba as one of my three. Another year I wrote John Terry. Another year I wrote Frank Lampard. Now these three players are with me and that’s very good for me. Maybe next season Cristiano is with me. That would be very good. If he wants to change, I’ll open the door to that.”
Now, whilst even the idea of that, not to mention the bloody great grin on his face when he said it, would be enough for the majority of us to know he was having a laugh, not so for the press who regarded it as headline news.
Obviously this is all good stuff as far as the press are concerned, with this being Scolari’s first meeting with Ferguson since United beat his Palmeiras side 1-0 in 1999, not to mention the history since then. And whilst Scolari suggests “I’ve only met him (Fergie) two or three times, it’s impossible to have a good relationship after that”, the daily’s are no doubt hoping it’ll be even harder after their latest ‘scoop’.
Blue is the colour
