It would be an understatement to say that Chelsea need to get their next managerial appointment right. But the issue is, they might have a tough time attracting top managers after how things have turned out for the past few. Sacking Thomas Tuchel was always going to turn out to be a mistake. Graham Potter failed to meet minimum expectations. Somehow, Liam Rosenior did even worse.
Mauricio Pochettino had started to get the team performing but ended up leaving after just one season. Enzo Maresca walked away in the middle of the campaign. And behind the scenes disagreements over the structure were believed to have played a part in both those departures.
So, not only do Chelsea need to hire the right manager but they also need to provide him with the right conditions, so that he chooses stay on at the club beyond a certain length of time. But it looks like they are close to missing out on one of their top targets. To make matters worse, he looks to be headed to one of the Blues’ London rivals.
Chelsea managerial target looks set to join Crystal Palace instead
According to information from journalist Marcos Benito as shared by El Chiringuito TV, Andoni Iraola is close to joining Crystal Palace.
That piece of news does come as a surprise. Iraola has been linked with clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United. Now, if he leaves Bournemouth for Crystal Palace, for many, it might feel like a step sideways.
Of course, someone like Iraola might feel that there is more stability at a club like Crystal Palace than there is at Manchester United or Chelsea. That could be a driving factor behind the move rather than trying to join the biggest club possible. It remains to be seen if the report is accurate or not.
With Iraola off the table, who could be Chelsea’s next manager?
Many outlets had suggested that Iraola was the top target for Chelsea this summer. So, if they do lose out in a race with Crystal Palace, that is going to be a blow for the Blues.
Obviously, one cannot overlook the contrary reports either, which have suggested that Chelsea do not think Iraola’s style would be the right fit for this team despite rating him highly. Personally, I am of the second view.
Chelsea need to bring in the right manager for this current set of players. They are not going to revamp the entire roster within a short space of time. And this is not the time for a transition either.
Now, who could the right choice for Chelsea? Your guess is as good as mine. But I feel that Xabi Alonso would be a good fit for this team. He has succeeded with a young squad in the past at Bayer Leverkusen. Also, his legacy in the sport means that he will immediately get the respect of the players. At least one would hope so. But ultimately, a lot will depend on how the management back the next manager, whoever that is.
