D-Day looms for Blues' Robinho bid (From Enfield Independent)

D-Day looms for Blues' Robinho bid

11:29am Friday 8th August 2008

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Chelsea may find out on Friday whether their pursuit of Real Madrid forward Robinho has been successful after tabling a bid for the Brazilian.

The Blues revealed earlier in the summer the 24-year-old was the man they wanted following the arrivals of Portugal duo Jose Bosingwa and Deco, and on Thursday they released a statement confirming an offer for Robinho - believed to be in the region of £20million.

The former Santos player would give boss Luiz Felipe Scolari more options up front, with a knee injury meaning Didier Drogba will miss the start of the season and Salomon Kalou absent at the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Scolari is happy with the progress he has made during his first month at the club after the Blues arrived back from their Asian tour.

He told ChelseaTV: "Now I have more confidence. I play four games and I know my players better. These two weeks with the players are very important to me.

"I know the players very well now, their reactions. I have had one month with the players, every day together. Now I have more choice than before."

Scolari also hailed the attitude of his players, adding: "They surprise me in one question - they are very professional. I never saw in my life players more professional than these players. Brilliant."

"(On the tour) I started three games as 4-4-2 and at half-time I changed to 4-3-3 - which was normal for Chelsea before - and I looked for the reaction from the team," he said.

"I will try in the next 10 days one new system for a few moments in each game. But normal for us now is 4-4-2 and 4-3-3. They play not bad, and I think this is the situation in the future.

"I am involved with the training and in the games I talk with the players and I talk with the bench. It's difficult for me only to look, see and not say something. They accept this, and I think they are receptive."

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