When the news filtered through that American businessman Todd Boehly was going to take ownership of Chelsea, a major shifting of the pillars was expected , but it hasn’t quite gone according to plan and there are murmurings of a second managerial switch of the season…
What’s the latest on Chelsea’s manager situation?
Thomas Tuchel was dismissed from duty after a drab start to the season for the Blues, and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter has not fared much better since adopting his mantle, languishing in tenth in the Premier League after 23 matches.
And following the recent home defeat to bottom-placed Southampton, fresh chatter around the long-term boss to lead the new lucrative project has risen to a loud din, with reports from Spain hinting that initial steps have already been taken to distinguish a new figure for the dugout.
Among the contenders, former FC Barcelona and Spain manager Luis Enrique, who has been unemployed for the past two months following his nation’s defeat against Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar.
Could Enrique be Boehly’s own SAF?
Chelsea churn through more managers than most, but with the shifting of the wind in west London, it might now be time to rewrite the narrative with the new era at the club in full swing.
According to the Mirror, Enrique is a manager who follows the tactical blueprint of one Sir Alex Ferguson, implementing swift transitions from defence to the offensive third and maintaining a high-octane, counter-pressing mentality.
The revered former Manchester United manager orchestrated one of football’s greatest ever footballing empires, winning an incredible 13 Premier League trophies and two Champions League’s, among a plethora of further major honours.
According to one scout report, the 52-year-old’s emphasis on tactical awareness and an innate understanding of the individualistic and collective positions and roles is also front shelf display when it comes to Enrique’s idealistic crafting of his teams.
And winning the Champions League, two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey’s for La Blaugrana – including a historic treble – his winning mentality and “headstrong” nature – as dubbed by David Cartlidge – is clearly discernible, perhaps the perfect aura needed at Stamford Bridge right now.
Potter has rightfully earned some lavish praise over the past several years for his managerial exploits with Swansea and Brighton, but at Chelsea, infamously demanding of success with a ruthless manner like few others, there is little room for error, and erroneous moves have indeed been made at Stamford Bridge this season.
With such a deep, rich scope of talent at the club’s disposal, the right manager could certainly make a marked improvement in fortunes, and Enrique – dubbed “remarkable” by Ferguson’s old rival, Arsene Wenger – might be just the man to create a lasting dynasty in west London.
