Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Having reached the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor are aiming high. They have every reason to with Brazil’s World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari at the helm. Under the World Cup-winning coach, Bunyodkor go into the Uzbekistan Cup Final on August 8 against archrivals Pakhtakor, whose monopoly over the silverware they ended recently.

Sensing that the time is opportune for a tete-a-tete with Scolari, the-afc.com linked up with the celebrated trainer and he was characteristically forthright in his views about the club and Uzbek football.

Q: Why did you join such a young club as Bunyodkor?
A: Like any other club in the world, Bunyodkor is a professional club. They wanted to hire me for a very big project on Uzbek football development. It’s not a simple task. The club has ambitions to play at the highest possible levels and wants to get great players and coaches to help lift the level of the local players.

Q: What is the difference between Bunyodkor and other sides you have managed earlier?
A: It’s difficult to point out the difference because the best players of the country play for the national teams of Brazil and Portugal. Bunyodkor deserves respect for making an impression in only five years of its existence. They are on the right path and I believe they will shortly achieve their objective. I am sure that the name of Bunyodkor will be taken alongside Chelsea, Corinthians and Benfica in the near future.

Q: What did you know about Uzbekistan and its football before you arrived in Tashkent?
A: I had no clue about this country until Rivaldo joined this club. I got regular information from him about Uzbek football. I had an idea about Uzbek football because my teams played against teams from Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Q: What do you think about the Uzbekistan League and Uzbekistan Cup?
A: Both these tournaments lack big competition because it’s only between Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor. It is necessary to have at least five to six equal clubs who would be capable of fighting for the title. I cannot say much about the quality of all the clubs because I have seen only Nasaf, Pakhtakor and Shurtan. I can’t say that they are weak but it is necessary for them to have attacking and capable players. Bunyodkor also need to become stronger.

Q: AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov has got a chance to go to Chelsea for a month on training. What are his prospects of joining the Premiership side?
A: I’m not the Chelsea coach anymore. It is difficult for me to say whether Server can join Chelsea or not. He is a good and skilful player, who reads the game well and is able to give a good pass or hit the target.

Q: You had said upon your arrival that the AFC Champions League will be one of your main goals. How do you rate your chances?
A: We should fight for the title in all tournaments we participate in. On August 8, we will play in the final of the Uzbekistan Cup and we should target the title. Now for us, this game is more important that the AFC Champions League quarter-final against Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers in September. It is necessary to go step by step. We should target a win against Pakhtakor. Certainly, I would like Bunyodkor to win the continental title. I think we will have equal chances of winning against Pohang Steelers.

Q: Goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov, Brazilian Leomar and young Kamoliddin Murzoev have recently joined you club. Is that all before the ACL knock-out stage?
A: I will definitely advise our management about any player who impresses me. But as of now, I am completely happy with the present squad.

Q: There are talks of Bunyodkor’s negotiations with Portuguese midfielder Deco. Your views.
A: We never considered talking to Deco.

Q: Have you changed your style of management?
A: Certainly it is the same. My work in Bunyodkor is no different from what I did at Chelsea, Brazil or Portugal. We should understand that the level of preparations depend on a club’s infrastructure. For example, the conditions for preparation were more favourable in Chelsea. But I am happy with what we have got here in Tashkent.

Q: You have worked with both clubs and national teams. What is the difference?
A: A club has a family-like atmosphere because you spend a lot of days with the same squad. When you are with a national team, you have to pay necessary attention for a short term.

Q: What is more convenient for you to coach - national team or a club?
A: I have no particular choice as long as I can work. It is irrespective of the status of the squad I am coaching. I like to work in football, it is my life.

Q: What can be done to improve the quality of Uzbek football?
A: First of all, it is necessary to involve foreign coaches and players from different countries. It is also necessary to meet strong opponents. It will give confidence to the players.