Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho has led the welcoming committee for new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, who will take over at Stamford Bridge on 1 July.

Carvalho is part of the Portugal team showing impressive form under Scolari, with two successive wins in Euro 2008.

The 30-year-old said: "He is a great manager and a big personality. He's the kind of guy that players respond to and I think we can go forward with him."

Fellow Portugal and Blues star Paulo Ferreira said: "He can do a good job."

Chelsea announced on Wednesday that Scolari will take over at Stamford Bridge two days after the Euro 2008 final.

The news came as a surprise as it was believed no formal announcement would be made until after Portugal's Euro 2008 campaign was at an end.

Carvalho added: "We were all shocked by the news. We heard the rumours but didn't guess he would be going to Chelsea after the Euros."

606: COMMENT There is a lingering feeling that Chelsea have taken a big gamble BBC Sport's Phil McNulty

After the announcement, Chelsea said no further comment would be made "out of respect for his current role and to ensure minimum disruption to this work".

And on Thursday, Portugal cancelled a scheduled media conference in which Scolari would undoubtedly have faced questions about his new role.

But it is already clear that Scolari's move has gone down well with the Portuguese contingent at Chelsea.

And it seems Carvalho may now be persuaded to stay at Chelsea after questions had been raised over his future at the club.

Carvalho had admitted he would like to work again with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who has just taken over at Inter Milan.

Ferreira, another of Portugal's Euro 2008 squad, has also been buoyed by the news he will work under Scolari at club level next season.

He told BBC Sport: "I think Scolari is a good manager and it will be good for the club."

Scolari, who won the World Cup with his native Brazil in 2002, is likely to be unveiled during the first week of July, at which time the details of his contract will also be revealed.

The 59-year-old Brazilian, who has no experience of managing at club level in Europe, famously turned down the chance to manage England after Sven-Goran Eriksson's departure in 2006.

Before becoming an international manager, Scolari enjoyed success at club level in Brazil, winning South America's equivalent of the Champions League - the Copa Libertadores - with two different clubs.

FROM OTHER SPORT SITES

Telegraph Scolari will bring passion - 19 mins ago

Football365.com Success But Trouble Ahead For Scolari - 20 mins ago

Mirror Opinion: Phil Scolari is the big man for the big Chelsea job - 21 mins ago

Edinburgh Evening News Scolari calls on Portugal to stay on victory trail - 38 mins ago

Glasgow Evening Times Blues usher in Scolari era - 55 mins ago

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