pa.press.net - Saturday 10th January 2009 8:25:00 PM Blues stars equal to Ronaldo - Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari insists Chelsea's top stars are just as good as Manchester United's wing wizard Cristiano Ronaldo.
Scolari will need to stop Ronaldo from taking his side apart at Old Trafford on Sunday but the Brazilian coach is adamant that Chelsea have players who can match the skills of the United superstar.
"I have players who do not have Ronaldo's characteristics, but I have players who have fantasy. They cross very well, pass very well and dribble, but Ronaldo is a different player with a different style," he said.
Scolari managed Ronaldo when he was in charge of the Portugal national team and defenders Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira have all played alongside the United trickster as well as midfielder Deco.
And while Scolari accepts that Ronaldo will be United's main threat, he believes Chelsea possess players of a similar match-winning calibre.
"Ronaldo is a player that can change the game," said Scolari. "When you expect him to dribble left he dribbles right, when you expect him to shoot left he shoots right.
"He jumps very well and is a very intelligent player. He can change the game. For me last season he was the best in the world, for sure. This season maybe some other players are in a better condition.
"We do not have players here with the same style, but we have some players as good as Ronaldo. Maybe this season a Chelsea player will be in the top five players in the world."
