Chelsea are expected to sack manager Antonio Conte following Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester United. The Blues finished fifth in the Premier League just one season after winning the title. Now, the FA Cup is the only trophy the club can obtain this term. While Conte will be in the job for the final, former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has been revealed as one of the front-runners to take over the Stamford Bridge hot seat.
Luis Enrique to Chelsea
Conte’s days at Stamford Bridge have been numbered. Reports of the manager having a tense relationship with the Chelsea board goes back to last summer when Conte demanded the club sell Diego Costa.
Chelsea are considering their options to replace Conte and Luis Enrique is high on the club’s list. Enrique had been on Arsenal’s radar to take over for Arsene Wenger. However, the Gunners have moved away from the ex-Roma coach.
Meanwhile Chelsea are said to be high on Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri. But it looks like the Italian may continue on in Naples after meeting with the club’s hierarchy. Sarri is expected to sign a new deal to manage Napoli after taking the side to Champions League qualification once again this season.
There had also been rumours of Chelsea interest in signing Germany manager Joachim Low as their new boss. However, Low signed a new contract this week that will keep him as Germany manager until 2022.
Some have claimed Enrique is the “last man in Chelsea’s” search for a manager. He could be the best option of the ones remaining.
Enrique left Barcelona in June 2017 after he and the club allowed his contract to expire. It is believed Barcelona captain Lionel Messi wanted the club to search out a new manager. There were even reports in the Spanish media that Messi hadn’t signed his most recent contract as he was waiting for a new manager to be installed at Camp Nou.
Should Chelsea hire Luis Enrique or continue their managerial search?