Scolari targets unprecedented quadruple trophy haul

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he is targeting an unprecedented four trophies in his first season and is close to finalising the starting 11 who he hopes will achieve the feat.

The newly-installed Brazilian has seen his team score 11 goals in his first two games in charge, and he gave a bullish message here on what he wants from his players.

“They arrived last year in three finals, that's very good for me,” he said.

“We have four competitions and I will try to win four competitions and the players are the same,” he added, referring to the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

“It will be very difficult but we have the team and the players for this. Chelsea have given me everything I want.”

Since taking over at the beginning of the month, Scolari has identified the core of the side that he hopes will save him from the sort of unceremonious dumping that befell former coach Avram Grant.

“I now have some idea but I need to be with them for more training, to finish this tour and then I will have my ideas for the team to play Portsmouth (on August 17),” he said.

“I have a minimum of 75 percent of the team in my mind.”

Chelsea romped past Chengdu Blades 7-0 on Saturday after thrashing Guangzhou Pharmaceutical last week. They play a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and then head to Moscow for the Railways Cup.

Scolari admits the opposition has yet to give then a stern test but knows playing in Russia will a different ball game, which he is relishing.

“Eleven goals in two games is a stepping stone and I think the match on Tuesday will be more difficult than the last and then the Russian team knows everything about us,” he said.

“It is then that I will know whether this team is ready. But my team is growing up and they are more free in the field now.”

Without naming names, he added that after less than a month in charge he had identified a small group of players who stand out above the rest and who will form the backbone of his side.

“I have had 15 or 20 days with the players and I know now who is the most important for us,” he said.