Footballing great Zinedine Zidane is being considered for the post of Chelsea first-team coach according to Sky Sports News. It is understood assistant manager Gianfranco Zola may also be instructed to take up the reins if they part with Maurizio Sarri.
The upper echelons of club hierarchy are concerned about the form & results under Maurizio Sarri. Mediocrity is not tolerated at the West London club to which many sacked managers will testify. Russian owner Roman Abramovic’s ambitious drive & ruthlessness in recent years has taken the club to glorious heights, and the system doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
Zinedine Zidane is without a job since leaving Real Madrid after leading them to three consecutive Champions League titles. He is one of the most coveted managers in the world right now & is expected to take up a job soon. Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has also been sounded out after impressing with his managerial stint at Derby. He has taken the team within 2 points of play-off places & famously knocked Mourinho’s Manchester United out of Carabao Cup in September.
Maurizio Sarri’s image has taken a dent with some fans also turning on him during Monday’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United. The blues are sixth in the premier league table below the red devils & Arsenal who made up lost ground recently. The club cannot afford to lose out on Champions League football in consecutive seasons.
The former Napoli manager has been put in increasing pressure after losses against Bournemouth, Manchester City, Arsenal & Manchester United. Fans & pundits alike have complained about his rigidity to change the system or adapt according to the opposition. His substitutions are also predictable with like for like changes that have not produced results. Sarri is known to be a footballing purist who believes in his philosophy & won’t change no matter what. Whether that will bring about his downfall remains to be seen.
Chelsea faces two crucial games next with a second leg Europa league game vs Malmo & the Carabao cup final vs Manchester City. If the Italian manages to navigate these safely and cause an upset in the cup, who knows it might be the turning point in his season. If not, we might see a new manager at Chelsea at the start of next week.
