Tag: Chelsea

Chelsea are in talks to appoint Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca as the replacement for Mauricio Pochettino.

The Italian, 44, took charge of the Foxes in June 2023 and has just led them back to the Premier League by winning the Championship at the first attempt.

Maresca is interested in moving to Chelsea, with talks continuing between the two clubs, 24 hours after Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna dropped out of the race for the role.

However, former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank have not been fully ruled out.

Chelsea would have to pay compensation fees for any of their remaining options.

Maresca, who served his coaching apprenticeship as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, would reportedly cost close to £10m.

Chelsea hope to finalise an appointment this week but it is subject to talks over the compensation package.

Read Also: McKenna no longer in contention for Chelsea job

Pochettino left the club by mutual consent last week after finishing sixth in the Premier League in his one season in charge.

Former Manchester United assistant manager McKenna, who led Ipswich to promotion from the Championship, is being linked with Brighton, as well as with a return to Old Trafford if the FA Cup winners sack Erik ten Hag.

Ipswich want to keep hold of McKenna and are expected to offer him a new contract – although he is unlikely to renew his deal.

He is contracted to Ipswich until 2027 and any club will need to pay at least £4m compensation.

BBC

Manchester United’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City has relegated Chelsea to the Europa Conference League, Soccernet.football reports.

A Manchester City win would have sealed Chelsea’s spot in the UEFA Europa League. However, Manchester United pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over the bitter city rivals in Wembley on Saturday to turn permutations upside down.

Chelsea fans were dismayed by the news, especially after discovering their potential opponents for next season’s competition.

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Initially, Chelsea hoped to qualify for the Europa League after finishing sixth in the Premier League under former manager Mauricio Pochettino. The club has previously won the Europa League in 2013 and 2019, and fans were optimistic about another successful run.

However, the FA Cup result means Chelsea will now compete in the Europa Conference League, a tournament they have never participated in before.

Chelsea are on the hunt for a new manager once more after Mauricio Pochettino left the club by mutual consent following just one season at Stamford Bridge.

The Argentine came under fire after an underwhelming first half of the season but led them to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.

Chelsea also finished as runners-up in the Carabao Cup and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Here is a list of likely Chelsea’s next manager

Ruben Amorim

Portuguese manager Amorim, 39, looked likely to be heading to Liverpool this summer.

His stock has risen after guiding Sporting to their first top-flight title in 19 years in 2021 and is highly rated by numerous European clubs.

Chelsea are known to have had a long-term interest in Amorim.

Hansi Flick

An early favourite with some bookmakers.

The German, 59, is available and ready to return to management having been out of work since he was sacked by Germany in September 2023.

Before that, Flick won 70 of his 86 games in charge of Bayern Munich from November 2019 to June 2021.

Under Flick, Bayern won a treble of the domestic league and cup, and the Champions League in the 2019-20 season.

Vincent Kompany

Chelsea are understood to have already expressed an interest in Burnley boss Kompany.

The Belgian impressed in guiding the Clarets to promotion the season before last, and their recent relegation doesn’t seem to have done too much damage to his reputation.

Read Also: Pochettino, Chelsea part ways after one season

Bayern Munich have also expressed an interest.

Kieran McKenna

The 38-year-old will be one of the favourites after guiding Ipswich to Premier League promotion this season.

The former Manchester United coach is understood to be of interest to Chelsea, having produced some impressive, free-flowing football with Ipswich.

Jose Mourinho

The 61-year-old has inevitably been linked with a third spell as manager of Chelsea, a move many fans would welcome but appears unlikely.

The Portuguese is out of work after he was fired by Roma earlier this season but was dubbed ‘the special one’ for his work with the Blues.

Mourinho won three Premier League titles and an FA Cup at Stamford Bridge, adding to the countless honours he won with Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Julian Nagelsmann

The former Bayern Munich boss, 36, took over as Germany manager last September but his contract only runs until July 2024, meaning he would be available after this summer’s European Championships.

The former RB Leipzig manager won the Bundesliga in his first season in charge at Bayern Munich, before being dismissed.

He was the favourite to take over Chelsea last summer before the club went in a different direction.

Michel Sanchez

The Girona boss would be a left-field choice but has impressed this season by guiding his side to Champions League qualification.

The 48-year-old has been at Girona since 2021 and has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Xavi at Barcelona.

Thomas Tuchel

Another highly-rated manager who is looking for work this summer.

A legend at Stamford Bridge for helping the club win the Champions League in 2021, before he was sacked by the new ownership group a year later,

Tuchel has left his job at Bayern Munich, despite recent talks to persuade him to stay, and is looking for a new challenge. Probably not at Chelsea, but you never know…

Roberto de Zerbi

Surely not another ex-Brighton employee heading to Chelsea? You wouldn’t rule it out.

The 44-year-old Italian is newly out of work after his shock resignation as Seagulls boss at the end of this season.

De Zerbi guided Brighton to sixth place the season before last, which saw the club qualify for European competition for the first time, and ninth in the season just gone.

He has been linked with numerous top jobs but insisted on Sunday he had no role lined up.

BBCSports

Chelsea are set to sign 17-year-old Estevao Willian from Palmeiras after they agreed an initial fee of 34m euros (£29m) for the winger.

The deal does include performance related add-ons for one of the most highly-rated young players in Brazil.

It is another large outlay by Chelsea, but continues their strategy of trying to sign the best young talent in the world.

Read Also: Boniface’s Bayern Leverkusen eye Bundesliga  ‘immortality’

The Blues have brought in a number of young players from South America in recent times, including Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington, Angelo and 17-year-old Ecuadorian forward Kendry Paez, who will arrive in 2025 from Independiente del Valle.

Chelsea have also recruited Sam Jewell from Brighton, where he was involved in their global talent-spotting network, especially in South America.

Chelsea are reportedly at risk of being banned from UEFA competitions for the 2024-25 campaign.

The Blues have spent much of the campaign outside of the top seven in the Premier League standings, the position that is required to earn a return to continental football.

However, in recent matches, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have showcased some of their best form, collecting seven points from matches against Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

As a result, Chelsea have since overtaken Manchester United in the race for seventh place, and even hold hope of gate-crashing the top six with the Red Devils still to play Newcastle United.

Should the West Londoners defeat Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth in their remaining three fixtures, they will be guaranteed at least a top-seven finish.

Read Also: Mbappe announces exit from PSG

Nevertheless, as has been persistently documented throughout the season, Chelsea’s spending in recent transfer windows and recorded losses could cause them issues going forward.

Co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are already facing issues to meet the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations by the next accounting date of June 30.

Needing to ensure that they do not make a £105m loss over a three-year period, Chelsea have already posted losses of in excess of £200m for the past two campaigns.

Chelsea defender Reece James could make his long awaited return to the pitch away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday five months after having surgery on his hamstring, manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

James has made eight appearances in the league this season and last played on Dec. 10 against Everton.

“We need to see today (at training) but maybe he can be available in the squad, yes,” Pochettino told reporters on Friday regarding James. “The most important thing is Reece James is going to be there for us. We have an amazing relationship and of course he is an amazing player.

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“It is not easy when you comeback from a long-term injury. The most important thing is he can be available and be part of the squad. It is important to finish (the season) with good feelings.”

The return of James could be a big boost for Chelsea in their final three games as they chase European competition next season and also fuels hope the 24-year-old could feature for England at Euro 2024.

Chelsea are seventh in the standings on 54 points, while relegation-threatened Forest are three points above the drop zone in 17th  with two games remaining.

“It’s true it’s going to be hard (to qualify for European competition),” Pochettino said. “Of course, we know very well we need to win games in the last three games. We then have a possibility to move into a place to play in Europe.

“The team is ready to face the last three games and it is important for us to be in Europe.”

Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, who has not played since injuring his hamstring on Christmas Eve.

Oli McBurnie scored an injury-time equaliser for relegation-threatened Sheffield United as Chelsea’s hopes of securing European football suffered a blow.

Mauricio Pochettino’s ninth-placed visitors were unable to maintain momentum following their dramatic last-gasp comeback win over Manchester United on Thursday.

Instead, just three days later, they fell victim to a late sucker-punch as McBurnie fired in from close range in the 93rd minute to earn a point for the Premier League‘s bottom side.

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Noni Madueke’s excellent finish midway through the second half – the England youth international cutting inside and curling an excellent finish past Ivo Grbic – had put Chelsea on course for victory.

The Blues took an 11th-minute lead when Thiago Silva was allowed to side-foot in Conor Gallagher’s corner unchallenged but Jayden Bogle beat Djordje Petrovic at his near post to bring the Blades level.

The increasing belief in Chris Wilder’s players was evident as the Bramall Lane crowd rallied behind their side – and they were rewarded for their persistence by a moment of celebration in an otherwise difficult season.

Sheffield United remain bottom of the table, nine points adrift of safety with 21 points still to fight for.

(BBC)

Chelsea will look to end their winless streak against Manchester United in the Premier League when the Red Devils visit Stamford Bridge for their league clash to night. The match will be broadcast live on GOtv.

Scott McTominay’s brace was the difference between both teams in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford last December, the result meant Chelsea are yet to record a league victory against United since Alvaro Morata’s winning goal in 2017. Tune in SuperSport Premier League (ch 66) at 9:40pm to enjoy the match.

Both teams head into this clash on the back of draws. Cole Palmer’s brace was not enough to hand Mauricio Pochettino’s men victory over Burnley last weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw, while a former Blue, Mason Mount was on the score sheet for the Red Devils in their 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Manchester United’s manager, Erik Ten Hag was full of praise for the Blues. “They have a fantastic team, fantastic players and play very good football, they can beat anyone and have shown this in the league,” he said.

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Providing an update on players available for the clash, Ten Hag disclosed that the defence pair of Johnny Evans and Raphael Varane have been training for the match, while Harry Maguire is also available for selection. But the duo of Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof has been ruled out injured for the next one month.

Also speaking ahead of the clash, Chelsea’s manager, Pochettino urged his players to bring more energy to the match. “We need to play better. We need to show more energy, that we can compete like a team. Tomorrow is Manchester United. The motivation is there. We need to respect the opponent (whoever it is). We need to be motivated every time we play,” he said.

Similarly, Liverpool will play host to Sheffield United as they seek to consolidate their status as league leaders as the season begins to wrap up. Tune in SuperSport Premier League (ch 66) at 7:20pm to watch the action unfold.