Blues stopper's Big Phil hopes

Ricardo Carvalho hopes Luiz Felipe Scolari takes over at Chelsea, despite the Portugal boss confirming he has not spoken to the Blues.

The Brazilian coach, who guided his homeland to the 2002 World Cup before taking the Portuguese post immediately afterwards, is one of the top coaches to be linked with the job at Stamford Bridge following Avram Grant's departure last Saturday.

Scolari is out of contract after Euro 2008 on June 29 and says he will not discuss his future until after that date, despite continuing reports linking him to the Blues.

"I am working normally around the national squad," he told Sky Sports News.

"It is normal at the end of a contract for a coach to be mentioned with other clubs.

"If I take a decision, I will tell my president. But I haven't made a decision yet. My only decision now is to work until after the European Championship.

"My president is Gilberto Madail. He is my representative. If he had any contact with Chelsea, I haven't been told about it."

Meanwhile Chelsea's Portugal international defender, Carvalho, says he hopes Scolari is the man who will eventually take over at Stamford Bridge.

"At the moment we don't have a coach and it's normal that Chelsea are interested in Scolari, especially after the good work he's done with Portugal," he told Portuguese newspaper Record.

"I'd be happy because I've worked with him for a long time and I think it would be a real plus for Chelsea."