Reigning Champions League champions Barcelona was next and Chelsea not only had to play a large part of the second leg in Barcelona with ten men but conceded a penalty that would have put Barcelona up 3-2.

FORBES: Abramovich Has Made Chelsea The Soccer Success Story Of The 21st Century

"I think this World Cup in Africa is very important, for the continent, not only for the Ivory Coast and not only for me, " the Chelsea star said.

BBC: Drogba: 2010 Africa's best chance

Scolari, who had an eight-month spell in charge of English Premier League team Chelsea, is not the only World Cup winner returning to the fold.

CNN: Scolari "obliged" to win World Cup for Brazil

Not only does he need to turn around a Chelsea team that is slipping down the table, he also needs to do it in double-quick time and while improving the bottom line, which effectively means curtailing salaries and transfer expenditure.

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However, BBC Sport understands that Eriksson, whose last involvement in English football was his one-season reign at Manchester City, is not the only big name to be linked with the club, with former England and Chelsea boss Glenn Hoddle also in the frame at one stage.

BBC: Eriksson holds Notts County talks