Luiz Felipe Scolari Accepts Culpability for Defeat, Seeks to Unite Squad

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has accepted responsibility for Sunday's debacle against Manchester United, and called on his players to unite and move forward.

The Blues put in an insipid performance against their title rivals, and displayed a worrying fragility to crosses. All three of Manchester United's goals came as a result of crosses into the box.

"It's more my error than the players. Now I need to change systems and start from new," Scolari said as he prepares his side for an FA Cup Third Round replay against Southend at Roots Hall.

"We need more to work together and when it is wrong we need more togetherness."

The Brazilian tactician admitted that his decision to take Deco off at half time and revert to a four-man midfield allowed United to add to the lead they had established with Nemanja Vidic's first half header in stoppage time.

"I say this to the press—I opened the midfield and I am responsible for us conceding the goals because I tried to change the result. (Losing) 1-0, 3-0 or 5-0 is the same to me.

"Other coaches try to say, 'No.' I say, 'Yes, I am wrong'—this is my style.

"But after one victory, or two or three, we will relax and win more. We just need more attention and more togetherness."

A chance to put things right comes in the form of the game against Southend, a tie Scolari has labelled as the club's "game of the year."

"Southend is the game of the year, we need to think the same way," he said.

"It's the FA Cup. If our spirit is not the same as Southend's, then it's difficult, but if our spirit is the same then we have good chance because we have better players than Southend.

"But we need to prove it on the pitch."