Luiz Felipe - the man behind the mask

From InChelsea Nov 08...

TOP OF THE LEAGUE AND TOP OF THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE group - and playing a more exciting brand of football than has been seen at the Bridge since the early days of Mourinho. Not a bad start for the big man from Brazil, hey?
And to think there were those who questioned the wisdom of bringing in Luiz Felipe Scolari on account of him never having managed a club side in Europe before.
They conveniently forgot he had worked all over the world as a club and international manager and had won trophies in his homeland, Kuwait and, of course, the World Cup as Brazil boss in Japan in 2002.
Along with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger he is one of the three top managers in the Premiership and, I would contend, the world as it is difficult to come up with better names than that trio wherever you travel on this planet of ours.
Scolari has done so well with the players at his disposal. When Mourinho arrived he seemed intent on playing with flair and attacking adventure - as exemplified by the flying wingers (Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips) he brought in.
Then the pragmatic side of the man weighed in and he seemed to decide results mattered above all else.
An undeniably brilliant manager nonetheless but at the end of his time at Chelsea his team’s solid, ‘no one shall pass’ style wasn't as exciting to watch as his biggest rivals Man United or Arsenal.
That would contribute to his downfall at the club as Roman Abramovich stressed time and time again to him that he wanted to win with style.
Scolari, who officially joined Chelsea on July 1, has managed to achieve what Jose couldn't sustain - and in just three months.
He is winning but winning with tactics that have brought a smile to the faces of both the owner and the fans.
It also strikes me how very likeable a man Big Phil is.
Prior to his arrival we were swamped with scare stories in the Press and on the internet suggesting he would be lucky to last the season given his alleged propensity to aggression and a totally maverick attitude. That image was fostered by the tales of him telling his players to cheat - by fouling and kicking the ball away to waste time - when he was boss of Gremio and Palmeiras in Brazil.
And then there was the well documented left hook he landed on the face of Ivica Dragutinovic just over a year ago. Big Phil reacted when he and the player exchanged words following Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
The 'punch' was actually a half-hearted graze but the Press went to town.
So when it was announced Scolari was on his way to Chelsea fears were voiced that he would fall foul of the FA - that he would be in hot water that could see him banned or forced out if he allowed his temper to get the better of him.
The reality, as is so often the case in football, has proved dramatically different to the myths.
Big Phil has proved himself a mature, strong, measured character - a man who respects others and who deserves our respect.
This man is no nutter brought in on a whim: he has shown himself to have the gravitas of Wenger and Ferguson and the same skills as a manager of the highest esteem.
He is charm personified at the club - whether it be with the cleaners or the suits - and has endeared himself to Chelsea FC and the English footballing world.
He is no show off or big mouth. When his work is done he humbly returns to his Surrey home and spends time with his wife Olga.
He is a family man and a fine footballing man.
Humility was hardly the word I expected to use in connection with Big Phil, but that is one of his key assets, perhaps the key one.
It enables him to keep things in perspective and to not get carried away. He has no sense of self-importance; he is merely another worker at Chelsea FC. He knows he is privileged to work at the Bridge, that he has hit the jackpot in terms of the players he inherited, the facilities and the money available for transfers.
And he has got Chelsea playing attractive football with the same players who served under Jose and Avram Grant - plus the two men he has brought in, Deco and Mineiro.
The jury is out on the Brazilian player, but Deco was an inspired buy, taking the team to another level until injury struck.
Scolari has also revitalised Nicolas Anelka by spending time with the Frenchman and trying to build up his fragile self belief and self esteem.
Many people were shocked to learn that the man labelled 'Le Sulk' at previous clubs is actually not suffering from arrogance but confidence in himself.
Full marks to Big Phil for understanding the truth of it with Anelka and working with him. It certainly paid a dividend given Didier Drogba's early season absence from injury. Chelsea may have suffered from a lack of a goal threat when the Ivory Coast man was out, but a recharged Anelka helped them over that potentially tricky spell.
With full-backs Jose Boswinga and Ashley Cole encouraged to charge forward and Frank Lampard hitting the form of his life the Big Phil machine is conquering everything placed before it.
The only worry is that the squad seems lacking numbers. Sure, there is strength in depth if a man gets injured, but if his replacement also is sidelined then Felipe could have problems. But I have heard he is planning for that eventuality – he aims to make a couple of major signings when the transfer window opens in January.
You know, if he can beef up his squad then, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Scolari confirms his worth by lifting the Champions League come May next year. This man is a winner and Chelsea are fortunate to have him for what will surely be the best years of an already glittering career.