EXCLUSIVE: Scolari lifts lid on his Chelsea hell

Luiz Felipe Scolari has spilled the beans on the incredible dressing room politics which forced him out of Chelsea.

Scolari, axed as manager two years ago after a disastrous spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, says the players' petty jealousies and egos earned him the sack.

In an amazing interview on Brazilian TV, the 2002 World Cup winner and former candidate to be England boss claimed:

* Didier Drogba caused him so many problems that he wanted to sell the Ivory Coast striker - but owner Roman Abramovich rejected a swap deal for Inter Milan's Adriano,

* Michael Ballack and Deco did not talk to each other because the German midfielder was jealous of his Portugese rival,

* A deal for Brazilian superstar Robinho was blocked by Abramovich,

* He struggled to control the Chelsea dressing room,

* He was so hurt by the Chelsea fall-out he could not even think about football for two months.

"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, nicknamed Big Phil, told Brazilian station TB Arena Sport TV.

"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. When Drogba came back he wanted to go straight back into the team but I said no.

"Ballack wanted to be one of the owners of the dressing room and the relationship with the German was not easy. He seemed jealous of Deco, did not want his arrival and I had to explain that I was the coach and it was up to me.

"I wanted Deco to work it out with Ballack, but it wasn't possible. They didn't speak to each other.

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

The ex-Portugal boss Scolari says he was so scarred by the experience that he was forced to consider his whole career.

"My exit from Chelsea was sad because the Premier League is a wonderful competition and a sensational venue to work," he added. "I was very depressed after my exit and for two months I didn't want to even talk about football.

"In the dressing room at Chelsea, there were many big stars and good players but their behaviour was very different."