Portugal slam Chelsea over Scolari

Portuguese football bosses have lashed out at Chelsea over the announcement Luiz Felipe Scolari will be their new manager.

Portuguese Football Federation president Gilberto Madail, speaking after his team were dumped out of the European Championship by Germany, said the timing of the announcement of Scolari's impending departure had a destabilising effect.

Madail fumed: "It wasn't the best moment for us for Chelsea to announce Scolari's appointment.

"I know Scolari had nothing to do with it and I was surprised, not by the appointment - because Scolari is a great coach - but at the timing chosen.

"I wish Chelsea would have consulted us before so that we could have chosen a better time."

Madail conceded that Scolari's departure was inevitable. He added: "I knew when we entered the tournament that Scolari would leave.

"We respected his wishes. His cycle with Portugal had ended because he wanted a new experience with a club.

"There was nothing we could do. It was a financial issue and we couldn't match Chelsea's offer."

Portugal have also had to deal with the distraction of Cristiano Ronaldo's club situation.

The 23-year-old star is under contract at Manchester United but Real Madrid are hell-bent on bringing him to the Bernabeu for the forthcoming campaign.

Ronaldo admitted after last night's 3-2 defeat that he would be discussing his future with United in the coming days.

Madail added: "I don't know what is going on in Ronaldo's mind and I don't think that contract problems would affect a player.

"It's normal for players to have to deal with these issues. I don't think it interferes and I didn't see any problem with Ronaldo."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.