Jesualdo Ferreira and Paulo Bento give public backing to Scolari

FC Porto and Sporting managers defend Portugal coach

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has received public backing from two colleagues, FC Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira and Sporting manager Paulo Bento.

Scolari stormed out of a press conference earlier this week when the Portuguese press asked what he considered a series of pessimistic questions about the team’s performance after they had qualified for the Euro 2008.

“We should to be happy for having qualified,” said FC Porto coach, Ferreria. “We cannot forget that for years we never went to the finals. If we had not qualified, things would have been complicated, but we have and things still continue to be complicated. I would like to know which national team was brilliant during the qualification phase.”

“Last year during the World Cup we were brilliant and it appears that this year we are not. The national team coach has very little time with the players and we cannot forget that the qualification process is difficult.”

Shortly afterwards Sporting’s Paulo Bento lent his weight to the argument that Scolari deserves more credit from the press.

“Let’s not forget who achieved all our objectives, in the final phase of Euro 2004, getting to the semis of World Cup 2006 and qualifying again for the European Championships.”

“We’re always looking to focus on negative aspects, at a time when we should be happy, satisfied and proud. Maybe there has been a Portugal coach more successful than Scolari, but I can’t remember one.”

“We think we are a world football power, but I don’t think we are. England is the home of football, but they’re not going to be there, and we are.”

Irritated Scolari storms out of press conference