It is very difficult to predict who the next Chelsea manager will be. It would mean predicting what BlueCo are planning. And as we all know, conventional footballing wisdom might not be enough to do that. Anyways, there are quite a few names that have been doing the rounds since Liam Rosenior was sacked. One would imagine that a few more would crop up between now and the end of the season.
Not only do BlueCo need to hire the right manager but they also need to bring in someone who will get the fans back on board. A large section of the support has grown disillusioned with the Clearlake-Boehly consortium. They also seriously doubt the sporting directors’ ability to make the right decision. It is now up to them to prove the supporters wrong.
Under these circumstances, bringing in someone who already has an established connection with the fanbase is always a smart choice. And it looks like one of Chelsea’s former players could be under consideration for the vacant role this summer.
According to Football Insider, Cesc Fabregas has emerged as a leading candidate for Chelsea they seek to replace Rosenior. Journalist Pete O’Rourke said:
“Cesc Fabregas, who we’ve previously spoken about, obviously doing a great job at Como.
“The Chelsea board have been impressed by the job he has done over in Italy. Again, he would tick a lot of boxes for Chelsea.
“He’s one of the most highly rated young head coaches out there and obviously has links to the club as well during his time at Chelsea as a player.
“There will be a number of candidates that the club are going to look at and evaluate, because they need to get this managerial decision right.”
How has Fabregas done as a manager so far?
Fabregas has only been at Como so far in his managerial career. So, it is easy to see why there would be an element of risk in bringing him to Chelsea.
That being said, he has impressed until now. Last season, Como finished 10th in Serie A. And they have been on an upward trajectory since then, currently sitting at fifth in the table.
They also have the second-best offensive and defensive record in the Italian top flight. Only Inter Milan have scored more goals than them and AC Milan have conceded fewer.
That bodes well for Fabregas, who is not a traditional big club in Italy. On the contrary, when he first became interim manager of the club, Como were in Serie B. Less than a decade ago, they were in the fourth tier of Italian football. Of course, heavy investment has been made. But the Spaniard deserves a ton of credit for the job he has done as well.
Would Fabregas be the right fit for Chelsea?
There are a number of reasons why Fabregas would be a good fit for Chelsea, even if you overlook the past connection. Firstly, he likes to play possession-based football, which seemed to suit this squad during Enzo Maresca’s time at Stamford Bridge. On the contrary, someone like Andoni Iraola focuses on high-intensity pressing, which some of these players might struggle to produce.
Secondly, Fabregas has proven himself while working with a young squad. Just look at Como’s roster. The likes of Nico Paz and Jacobo Ramon have flourished working under the Spaniard.
Thirdly, Fabregas is a proven winner. He might not have won anything as a manager so far, but he has not really been at a club where he can. As a player, he had one of the most impressive trophy cabinets in football history, with both club and country. So, he knows what it takes to deliver at the highest level, something that some of the previous managers did not seem to.
