Chelsea are interested in appointing Luis Enrique as manager to replace Graham Potter, who has failed to make the desired impact in west London, and have been handed a boost in their pursuit after Brazil reportedly ruled out the Spanish manager.
What’s the latest on Chelsea’s managerial search?
According to Sport, the distinguished head coach has been ‘weighing up’ his options after resigning from the Spanish national team following the World Cup, and he might indeed find Stamford Bridge the perfect place to reignite his managerial career.
The report continues to state that Potter is under ‘immense pressure’ having won just two of his past 15 matches across all competitions, with The Telegraph’s Matt Law stating that the next two matches could prove definitive for his reign.
Enrique has previously been linked with a move to the Blues following reports from Spain, and should owner Todd Boehly decide to give his current boss the axe, the former Barcelona manager could be the optimum replacement.
Should Chelsea hire Enrique?
Inevitably, a host of options have circulated when the media considers who will take the reins at Chelsea, and given the club languish in tenth place in the English top-flight and find themselves 14 points adrift of rivals Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place, the most prudent and auspicious route might be to target a proven winner.
And Enrique, who clinched a historic European treble with La Blaugrana in the 2015/16 campaign, gleaning the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey, knows a thing or two about installing a winning mentality when presented with a supremely talented and affluent squad.
Hailed as “headstrong” by journalist David Cartlidge, the 52-year-old might just reinstate the iron-clad resolve and unquenchable fire that was burned brightly at the centre of Stamford Bridge, should he indeed be appointed.
Also lauded as “remarkable” by Arsene Wenger, Enrique holds a superlative knowledge of creating a clear and inventive philosophy within his team, providing each member with an understanding of the system and consequently breeding a cohesive and unified collective.
With a manager of Enrique’s pedigree waiting for a new adventure, Chelsea can offer the perfect project for him to finally test his mettle in the Premier League, and with the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi also waiting in the wings, Boehly must choose wisely when appointing his next prospective boss.
According to Football Insider, the Blues hierarchy are impressed by the work of De Zerbi, who replaced current Chelsea boss Potter in the Seagulls dugout, and has built upon the foundation left by his predecessor.
However, Chelsea must be wary of lightning striking twice by returning to the AMEX Stadium, and with Enrique available, the path to choose seems to be something of a no-brainer, especially when considering the opulence of the Chelsea unit.
Landing the illustrious Enrique would be a “wise” choice, as the man was once heralded by Patrick Boyland, and given he currently waits for a new club, Boehly must forge ahead with a move and provide Stamford Bridge with the calibre of leader to match the potential of the squad.