Although Enzo Maresca emphasizes that the advancements at Chelsea are evident due to the owners' support during his initial season at Stamford Bridge, reports indicate that the Blues' board is now 'split' regarding the Italian's future.
In the face of fan discontent during a stretch where Chelsea has secured only seven victories in 18 Premier League matches, dropping from title contenders to outsiders for Champions League spots, reports indicate there are now ‘significant concerns regarding his style of play,’ and ‘the noticeable decline in performance from star player Cole Palmer has also attracted attention.’
Ending up in the top five will probably save him, with the UEFA Conference League serving as the icing on what would be a successful season. Even if he fails to qualify, it might not result in his dismissal. However, we've prepared a list of 10 managers that we believe the Chelsea leadership will/should consider if they decide to part ways with Maresca.
Carlo Ancelotti [Real Madrid]
One approach to tackling the significant and expensive lack of experience in the youngest squad in the Premier League could be to employ the most seasoned manager, who also brings with him the advantage of being one of the most successful in history, along with the extra benefit of having achieved some of that success while managing Chelsea.
The BlueCo conveyor has observed seasoned managers replaced by what are referred to as 'legacy' choices: Thomas Tuchel, subsequently Graham Potter, then Mauricio Pochettino before Maresca. It's certainly the old-timer's chance, yet we are unsure if Ancelotti is genuinely interested; coaching Brazil at a World Cup is an appealing option.
Kieran McKenna [Ipswich Town]
The argument regarding Vincent Kompany tends to falter because he appears likely to accomplish only the minimum with Bayern Munich this season after obtaining that position following Premier League relegation. However, one could contend that McKenna has greater credibility in the bank after Ipswich’s season compared to Kompany when he led Burnley down.
Regardless, it would be a daring decision for Chelsea to switch out one manager whose success was in the Championship for another, despite the strong impression McKenna left during discussions with the Chelsea executives last year.
Frank Lampard [Coventry]
They were unable to, could they? Lampard stepped in at Coventry while they were 17th in the Championship standings, just two points clear of the drop zone. As they approach their final match of the season against Middlesbrough, they understand that a win will secure them a play-off spot, provided Millwall does not defeat Burnley by six goals—a scenario that seems improbable and would be amusing considering Scott Parker’s team has allowed 15 goals all year.
He has performed exceptionally well and is evidently a great manager in the Championship. It's the type of performance that will lead Blues supporters to think about his quite good first season at Stamford Bridge, where his main achievement was developing young players, who happen to be the only type of players Chelsea has at the moment.
The interim phase was a complete failure and the strategies during his initial period were frequently scrutinized, yet it’s Super Frank Lampard and in an effort to win over Chelsea supporters – who would love nothing more than his return to demonstrate his worth – there might be room for an emotional over rational decision.
Simone Inzaghi [Inter Milan]
He led Lazio to the Champions League for the first time in 12 years, won three Italian Cups (one with Lazio; two with Inter), secured the Serie A title last season, is engaged in a contest with Napoli for back-to-back Scudetti, took a less recognized Inter to the Champions League final in 2023, and is now so esteemed that he’s viewed as the main reason why an Inter team lacking the talent to compete with PSG, Barcelona, or Arsenal could succeed this season.
It seems he’s a manager poised for lasting success, and Chelsea would appreciate some of that.
Liam Rosenior [Strasburgo]
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali stated he dismissed Rosenior after they narrowly failed to reach the Championship play-offs last season due to a “football philosophy” that has assisted Strasbourg in rising from 13th last season to seventh this year, now only two points away from Champions League qualification with three matches remaining. He has recently received a new contract at Strasbourg, while Hull is now confronting the possibility of relegation. Ilicali got what he deserved.
Rosenior is sure to be included in discussions about any new Chelsea manager, with Strasbourg also owned by BlueCo. They would need to pay compensation in a characteristically fitting manner, following their troubled attempts to bypass PSR regulations, which would result in them essentially paying themselves for his services. He might also be a choice for Leeds.
Xavi [available player]
He was associated with Manchester United prior to Ruben Amorim being appointed and has remained connected to Manchester United during Ruben Amorim’s tenure, as Ruben Amorim hasn’t performed well in his role.
Xavi has garnered significant respect for guiding Barcelona to the championship during the challenging 'lever' era before choosing to resign instead of being dismissed by the Catalan team. He has expressed a desire for an “exciting project” at a club where “I can win titles,” and Chelsea can fulfill both of those needs. Cease your laughter in the rear.
Roberto De Zerbi [Marseille]
He shakes things up, and we’re uncertain if the Chelsea directors will appreciate that, yet that’s also why De Zerbi might be an excellent choice following a solid season at Marseille, who seem poised to make a comeback to the Champions League after finishing eighth last season.
Andoni Iraola [Bournemouth]
The concerns for Chelsea and other major clubs (including Tottenham) interested in Iraola is that Bournemouth are either in excellent form or significantly struggling. They can produce performances similar to a Champions League team for a stretch of the season but then instantly resemble relegation threats in drastic shifts that might lead a less tolerant fanbase than Bournemouth’s to boo from the stands before he’s had a chance to establish himself.
They secured 25 points during an unbeaten streak of 11 matches around Christmas, positioning them for Champions League qualification. However, ten points from their last 11 games has caused them to drop into mid-table, pushing Iraola down the list of interested candidates, where he was previously near the top a few months back. Nevertheless, he is bound to land a significant job shortly.
Marco Silva [Fulham]
We are great admirers of Marco Silva, yet we are completely convinced he would be a massive failure at a Big Club, which places him squarely in Chelsea's territory.
Cesc Fabregas [Como]
He’s associated with AC Milan after an excellent first season as a manager, as Como's streak of four consecutive victories places them securely in the Serie A mid-table, including victories against Atalanta, Roma, and Napoli, which make up his brief yet impressive resume that will likely lead him to a Premier League club sooner or later.
The idea of Fabregas signing with Chelsea and defeating Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal for the title is an enticing scenario impossible not to support.
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