Scolari believes Brazil are on the right path

Posted Tuesday, March 26, 2013 by Goal.com

The Selecao boss insists that there is no shortcut to success after his side needed a last-gasp goal to secure a draw against Fabio Capello's men on Monday night

Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has insisted that his side are on the right path after a 1-1 draw with Russia on Monday night.

The Selecao needed a last-gasp goal from Fluminense striker Fred to salvage a result against Fabio Capello's men in a friendly at Stamford Bridge.

Felipao remains without a win in his second stint as Brazil boss - last week's Italy draw and February's defeat to England having been his only other games to date - but he was determined to put on a brave face and focus on the positives.

He told reporters: "I think that from the game against Italy to this one we kept at the same level, but we were playing against a well-organised [Russia].

"They kept the ball quite a well and because of a lot of factors we maybe let that goal in because they marked higher that the Italians and they pressed, too.

"But what I really liked was that towards the end our team had a good reaction. They didn't get desperate, they kept their heads, worked the ball and scored the goal.

"We haven't evolved as much as from the England game to the Italy game, but we are on the right path. Everybody knows there are no shortcuts for success. You need to go in stages.

"We have to go through every stage to reach the final goal. In each stage we try to add some small improvements - someone comes in, someone changes position."

Argentina are currently top of Conmebol qualification in Brazil's absence and Scolari praised his nation's perennial rivals as well as Colombia, who sit second.

"Argentina are always a good team, they have great players," the former Chelsea boss added.

"Colombia are always replacing their players with good ones like James [Rodriguez], [Radamel] Falcao and [Jackson] Martinez coming through - that is why they are doing well."

Scolari also dismissed suggestions that the World Cup 2014 host nation's supporters have lost faith in the Selecao, and highlighted the importance of building a strong morale ahead of this summer's Confederations Cup.

"I believe that we already have the support and the trust of the Brazilian fans," the coach continued. "All we need to do is continue to work with the group. For the Confederations Cup we are going to have a strong, compact group.

"The fans can be sure that they will have a very recognisable group that they will be happy with."

Brazil's next game is against Chile on April 24.