Luis Felipe Scolari has blamed Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka for his ill-fated spell at Chelsea.

The Brazilian became the first World Cup winning coach to manage in the Premier League when he replaced Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge in 2008.

After a disastrous Christmas period, Scolari was sacked after just seven matches in charge.

And in a stunning revelation, the 71-year-old says the dithering relationship between his star strikers ruined 'one of the greatest chances' of his life.

"Chelsea had some problems with injuries, some problems in the team. I had a form of leadership that clashed with one or two players," he told Yellow and Green Football.

When asked which players he had issues with, Scolari responded: "Anelka and Drogba."

Scolari added: "Our medical department thought that we should let Drogba go and recover [from surgery] in Cannes, in the middle of summer.

"I thought he should stay in London. I'd also like to go to Cannes in the middle of summer. I'd stay there for a month, two months, enjoying myself.

"When he came back, I tried to adapt so that Drogba and Anelka could play together. Anelka was the top scorer in the league. We had a meeting and Anelka said: 'I only play in one position'.

"So, there was a bit of a lack of friendship, of respect, of trying to play together with Drogba. They were both great, but someone had to do something different, to get back to help when we lost the ball.

"That was when it changed a bit. But we've met since then, me and Drogba. The last time was in Russia in 2018. We spoke openly about it.

"There wasn't any ill intention from him or Anelka. But it happened and I lost out on one of the great chances of my life."