Chelsea next manager: Enrique and Nagelsmann lead the way to replace Potter – Big Debate | Football | Sport
Chelsea are again on the hunt for a new manager after the sacking of Graham Potter. Todd Boehly dismissed Potter on Sunday and is now searching for a permanent successor, with Bruno Saltor put in temporary charge. But should it be Mauricio Pochettino who Boehly turns to now? Or Julian Nagelsmann? Maybe even Luis Enrique? Express Sport have their say in the latest edition of the Big Debate…
Ryan Taylor – Julian Nagelsmann
I would be surprised to see any other manager land the Chelsea job given the candidates that are currently available. Nagelsmann is an upgrade on Graham Potter but he also ticks multiple boxes in the sense he is a relatively young coach who could be brought in to steer a long-term project.
He will also have a point to prove after being sacked by Bayern Munich and given the only way appears to be up for this Chelsea side, he could be a great fit for the Blues.
Charlie Gordon – Luis Enrique
Managing a bloated squad full of expensive superstars requires a manager who commands respect. Enrique fits squarely into that category, while his fluid style of play should help to lift the mood at Stamford Bridge.
Combine that, his pulling power in the transfer market and Todd Boehly’s willingness to spend, and the Premier League has a potential force to be reckoned with.
Alex Turk – Zinedine Zidane
Who Chelsea should appoint and who Chelsea will appoint are going to be different answers in this case. Julian Nagelsmann is the obvious shout, but something lingering in my mind says, like Graham Potter, it wouldn’t be a good match.
Chelsea historically haven’t appointed ‘project’ head coaches. They want to win immediately. Zinedine Zidane’s success at Real Madrid in such a short period speaks for itself. And he would be walking into a squad that should have the quality to win immediately.
Gideon Brooks – Luis Enrique
The natural progression with coaching appointments in all sports is generally to go hard towards the opposite of what just failed. And for that reason, Luis Enrique is my idea of the next Chelsea boss. Consensual man-management of Potter was deemed a failure for all that many of the mistakes were imposed on him from above.
Enrique, a man who challenged Lionel Messi and Neymar when at Barcelona, will dig his trenches deeper whether with the owners or players. A big abrasive personality is what Chelsea need and the Spaniard is it.
Stuart Ballard – Julian Nagelsmann
If the Chelsea board want to continue down the same road they went for with Graham Potter in building for the long-term then Julian Nagelsmann is arguably the best bet.
His sacking at Bayern Munich hasn’t damaged his stock too much with the German side going through a somewhat transitional year after losing Robert Lewandowski last summer. Reports have suggested he favours a move to the Premier League, but Chelsea will have to fend off Tottenham to bring in the 35-year-old.
Sam Smith – Luis Enrique
A Newly thrown-together squad in need of stability and instant results requires the experience of a manager who has worked at international level. It is easy to see why Chelsea might want the glamour of Mauricio Pochettino or Julian Nagelsmann, but they are coaches who can come in after a few years of careful building at Stamford Bridge.
Instead, Luis Enrique is the man for the job. The former Barcelona head coach took over an inexperienced Spain team in major transition and had them perform relatively well at Euro 2020 before a surprise last-16 exit at the World Cup.
Matthew Dunn – Julian Nagelsmann
Chelsea have made it clear they see their future management structure being driven by a young coach with energy and long-term ambitions – and within a season, a 35-year-old who has won three trophies in the last 18 months suddenly becomes available. The only surprise is that Graham Potter was not sacked just to make way for him.
Todd Boehly needs to get his act together, though – Nagelsmann will need some persuading that Chelsea is actually the right club for him.
