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Scolari fears for title as Chelsea lose

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, right, is tackled by Chelsea’s Jose Bosingwa during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. PHOTO: EPA

Luiz Felipe Scolari believes that Chelsea’s Premier League title bid is destined to fail unless his team shrugs off Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United.

Chelsea succumbed to their biggest loss at Old Trafford in 15 years, with an aging side failing to even come close to scoring against the defending champions.

“It’s done big damage, very big damage,” Scolari said. “We are not playing very well at the moment to win any competitions.”

After dropping 14 points from a possible 24 in the recent slump, the second-place Blues find United just one point behind them with two games in hand. Liverpool, who drew 0-0 at Stoke on Saturday, have a four-point lead at the top.

“If we play like today and the last three or four games, sure we won’t win [the title],” Scolari said. “But now is the time for me and the players to be thinking about our future.”

“We lose everything or we are men and we regroup. This is the time, it is only this way. The second way is dead,” he said.

Wigan’s Mario Melchiot, center, tackles Tottenham Hotspur’s Jamie O’Hara, right, during their English Premier league match at the JJB stadium in Wigan on Sunday. PHOTO: EPA

Despite the disappointing run and his team’s first away loss of the season in the league, Scolari believes his players can still get Chelsea’s title challenge back on track.

“It’s more hard than before because we don’t play against Manchester again and they are in front with two more games to play,” Scolari said. “But the competition isn’t finished. I need to talk to my players and they need to understand what’s happened in this game and the last two or three games. We need to change the mentality and attitude.”

United went ahead just before halftime when Nemanja Vidic was allowed to send a downward header past Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech at the far post after Dimitar Berbatov had flicked on a corner from Ryan Giggs.

Chelsea had no better luck in the second half, despite Scolari changing his tactics.

After deploying Didier Drogba on his own up front in the first half, the introduction of Nicolas Anelka alongside him in favor of the ineffective Deco at the break just opened up the game more for United.

Chelsea were ripped apart for United’s second goal with Cristiano Ronaldo backheeling to Patrice Evra on the left flank, allowing the France defender to deliver a crisp ball that Wayne Rooney poked through Ashley Cole’s legs and into the net.

Defender Franco di Santo was inert as Berbatov drifted past him to fire Ronaldo’s free kick beyond Cech with three minutes remaining.
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