The Portugal boss knows the Barça star well as the pair won the 2002 World Cup together with Brazil, when Ronaldinho was beginning to live up to his potential.
His dazzling form for the Blaugrana saw him lauded as the world's best player as Frank Rijkaard's side won two league title and the Champions League, but Scolari believes things have changed.
"He has reached his best as a player. He played marvellously in 2004 and 2005, but his performance level went down a bit in 2006," the Portugal coach stated.
"What is clear is that nobody can maintain the same level for ten years in a row. Ronaldinho is never going return to be the twisting Brazilian that the Barcelona fans are asking for.
"From now on he is not going to be beating four players no will he score four goals in the same game."
Scolari believes that his comaptriot is suffering from the weight of expectation and demand on him and that he is not enjoying himself any more.
"Independently from all this, I still think that at present he doing well, but it has been some time since he looked like he was enjoying himself on the field," he continued.
"The drop that filled the glass of his suffering was to be named on the bench against Lyon last Tuesday. I am sure he accepted it with dignity because he is a professional, but I think that he was suffering inside.
"For someone who has been the best player in the world, it is a tough blow to be seen like this now, because of his tiredness after so many trips and games."
With rumours of a move away from Camp Nou, Scolari advised Ronaldinho to decide what his next move should be and whether he wants to try pastures news.
"What Ronaldinho needs to decide is whether he wants to stay at Barcelona or try going to Chelsea. What he needs more than ever is to feel calmer on the pitch," he concluded.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
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Friday, November 30, 2007
Ronaldinho Is Past His Best And Is Not Happy - Scolari
Del Piero To Start On The Bench Again
The Golden Boy was dropped from the starting line-up for last Sunday’s game against
Both strikers scored as the Bianconeri raced into a two-goal lead at half time. However Del Piero was introduced into the fray on 68 minutes and produced a magical cameo performance, scoring two goals, one a brilliant free-kick, as well as creating another for Marco Marchionni.
The post-match debate was all about whether Del Piero, at the age of 33, is actually of better use to Ranieri as some kind of super-sub – a player who can come off the bench in the last 20 to 30 minutes to change the game.
It appears that the Tinkerman sees it this way as Juve’s training schedules suggest that Iaquinta will once again partner Trezeguet in a 4-4-2 formation.
Ranieri is unlikely to deploy a trident attack, as
A silver lining for Del Piero could possibly come in the form of Mauro Camoranesi. The winger is struggling with fatigue and if he fails to be fit, it could prompt a tactical reshuffle.
However in this scenario it seems more likely that Camoranesi will be replaced by either Marco Marchionni, or former Bayern Munich man Hasan Salihamidzic.
Carlo Garganese
(Goal.com)
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