What Xavi said about managing Chelsea back in 2019 amid new BlueCo stance

The list of potential Chelsea managers seems to grow by the day at the moment, with Spanish legend Xavi the latest to be linked with the soon-to-be vacant role at Stamford Bridge.

Despite a 3-1 home defeat to a weakened Nottingham Forest side on Monday, Chelsea will continue with Calum McFarlane until the end of the season. Three league games remain, as well as a crucial FA Cup final.

MESSAGE TO BLUECO: Get Fabregas in and listen to JT! 👊

It just makes sense.

For now, there are three front-runners. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham boss Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso, though Jamie Carragher does not believe Alonso would join Chelsea, having played for Liverpool.

This is BlueCo’s most important managerial pick since they arrived at the club. With the club teetering on a free fall, the five sporting directors have to get it right. The latest to be linked is World Cup winner Xavi.

Xavi said he’d love to manage Chelsea back in 2019

The Barcelona icon is without a club since leaving the Nou Camp as manager in the summer of 2024. He has only ever managed two sides, having taken charge of Qatari side Al Sadd following his retirement.

While some reports state that Chelsea are not actually interested in hiring Xavi, his representatives say that Chelsea have made contact. If the Blues have, it doesn’t sound like he would need much convincing.

In 2019, he said he would like to manage Chelsea. Xavi said: “Who doesn’t like the Premier League? The football atmosphere, packed stadiums. The people who play in the Premier League say it’s extraordinary.

“If I had to choose, I’d choose a big team, City or United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Tottenham. Also, [Jurgen] Klopp, [Mauricio] Pochettino and Unai Emery, many there are doing an extraordinary job,” he said.

Which other managers have been linked with Chelsea?

Aside from Xavi and the three front-runners, plenty more have been linked. There has been talk of a sensational return for Antonio Conte with his Napoli future in doubt, but that feels incredibly unlikely.

DISCUSS: Farioli’s winning mentality is exactly what Chelsea need.

Three wins every four games is remarkable.

Jose Mourinho’s return has also been downplayed by those close to him, despite the Benfica manager going an entire league season unbeaten. Mourinho still has property in London, where his family live.

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