• Sacked coach says he found it hard to control players • Deco and Michael Ballack 'didn't speak'

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed he tried to persuade the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, to sell Didier Drogba because he had found it difficult to control the striker during his troubled spell at the club.

"Big Phil" told a television station in his native Brazil that the Chelsea dressing room was riven by personality clashes and he had problems dealing with several big-name players.

"I didn't leave Chelsea because of sabotage from the players but it is true that it was difficult to control the dressing room," Scolari said.

"Drogba believed he was the star in the squad and I did have conflicts with him. He wanted to go to a hospital in Paris because of an injury but I said no.

"That was my first problem because [Nicolas] Anelka did well in his absence and scored many goals. But when Drogba came back he wanted to go straight back into the team, but I refused.

"I wanted Robinho but it wasn't possible. I also wanted Abramovich to change Drogba for Adriano at Inter because he was easier to control than Drogba."

Scolari, who was coach of Brazil when they won the World Cup in 2002, was sacked by Chelsea in February 2009 just seven months into a three-year contract.

He said Michael Ballack seemed "jealous" of Deco when the Portuguese arrived at the club. "I wanted Deco to work it out with Ballack but it wasn't possible. They didn't speak," Scolari said.