• World Cup

Scolari tells his critics: Go to hell!

Luiz Felipe Scolari was angered by the Brazilian media © Getty Images

Enlarge

A furious Luiz Felipe Scolari rounded on his critics and told some journalists to "go to hell" ahead of Brazil's World Cup quarter-final final against Colombia.

Scolari hit out at critics who questioned his use of a psychologist in the aftermath of his side's draining victory against Chile, a move intended to help players such as Neymar cope with the burden of expectation.

The manager was also angered at reports he had allegedly told a small group of journalists that he wished he could make one change to his squad.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was criticised in the Brazilian media for his use of a psychologist to help his players deal with emotion © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Neymar out of World Cup
  
• News: Brazil 2014 set to be one of the best, according to report
  
• News: Neymar turns to psychologist
  

"I said at this time in the competition, I could add a player for the different matches from now onwards," Scolari said. "All the coaches would like to add someone.

"They would add because of the characteristics of the next team but you have 23. We know they would take us to victory, we know they were selected a long time ago."

He explained the fact that he met that small group of journalists by saying: "There's no way I can go down to talk to everyone. Those who were not invited it was because maybe I don't like you that much or, at that time, I didn't want to talk to you.

"That's what I did in 2002 and I will continue to do it. Men can't be jealous. No. Please. If you like it, you like it. If you don't, you don't. Just go to hell."

With pressure continuing to build ahead of Friday's clash in Fortaleza, Scolari insisted the host nation would face Colombia with "one hand on the cup".

Scolari said: "We are going on to the fifth step [of the World Cup] now. There are seven in total. Our supporters don't expect anything different. They want us to tell them what we want, how we want to win. It shouldn't be any different."

Captain Thiago Silva also dismissed concerns about the amount of emotion shown by some of Brazil's players in the aftermath of the Chile win, as has star player Neymar.

"I am emotional and it's a natural thing for human beings to be emotional," Silva said. "It doesn't affect me at any time on the pitch. People are saying some silly things."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd