Chelsea consider shock Carlo Ancelotti return

Carlo Ancelotti shall be thought of for a return to Chelsea for a second spell as supervisor at Stamford Bridge ought to the Real Madrid coach go away the Santiago Bernabeu on the finish of the season, sources have advised ESPN.

Chelsea introduced former participant and coach Frank Lampard as interim supervisor for the rest of the season on Thursday having sacked Graham Potter final Sunday. Potter lasted simply seven months in cost after changing Thomas Tuchel final September.

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Sources have advised ESPN that Chelsea’s house owners are contemplating as many as seven candidates to grow to be the membership’s everlasting supervisor, together with Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino and that Ancelotti can also be within the body due to uncertainty over his future with the reigning European champions.

Ancelotti, who gained a Premier League and FA Cup double in 2009-10 throughout his two-year stint as Chelsea supervisor, is making ready to face his former membership in a Champions League quarterfinal first leg in Madrid on Wednesday.

Sources near Ancelotti have advised ESPN the four-time Champions League-winning coach accepts that he’s below strain at Madrid and that his place can be below risk if he did not ship one other Champions League title this yr having guided the Spanish membership to a report 14th European Cup final season.

But the 63-year-old has restored his popularity as one of many sport’s nice coaches at Madrid, having returned to the membership for a second interval in cost in 2021 after an 18-month spell as Everton supervisor.

Sources have mentioned that Chelsea are decided to retain the mannequin of a coach working in tandem with a technical director — a construction Ancelotti has labored inside all through his teaching profession.

– Olley: The inside story of why Chelsea sacked Potter

Alongside Ancelotti’s profitable observe report, the Italian supervisor has additionally proven a readiness to work with youthful coaches, together with Paul Clement at Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid, in addition to Zinedine Zidane on the Bernabeu — opening up the prospect of an analogous set-up at Chelsea.

Madrid’s 4-0 Copa del Rey semifinal victory over Barcelona on the Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday has eased the speedy strain on Ancelotti, however with the membership trailing Barca by 12 factors within the LaLiga title race, even better focus has been positioned on retaining the Champions League title.

A failure to take action — Madrid will face Bayern Munich or Manchester City within the semifinal in the event that they overcome Chelsea within the quarters — would seemingly go away Ancelotti preventing for his job on the Bernabeu, with Chelsea able to consider him for a return to Stamford Bridge.

In a information convention on Friday, Ancelotti reiterated his need to remain at Madrid when requested whether or not he would swap locations with Barca head coach Xavi.

“I don’t want to swap with anyone because I’m very happy here at the best club in the world, in a place where people love me, there’s a lot of affection. So I don’t want to change,” Ancelotti mentioned.

“That’s what I’m thinking right now. I’m excited because the season is alive, we’ll play our fourth final this season. Right now we’re happy; we have to finish well, it’s true that we’re behind in the league because Barcelona have done very well, we have four points fewer than last season and they have many more.

“We’re glad. To end the season properly would imply successful extra trophies, that might imply a spectacular season.”