Top Chelsea managerial candidate heads to London for more talks after ‘impressing in initial discussions’
Luis Enrique is reportedly travelling to London to hold in person conversations with Chelsea about filling in their vacant managerial spot.
According to The Independent, Enrique impressed Chelsea after initial discussions with the club, and successfully sold them his ‘clear vision’ for the team.
The report added that the club had previously been interested in Enrique, but were put off by his high wage demands and lack of English.
Enrique has been working on the language barrier and the Chelsea hierarchy are interested in his proposed tactics.
Chelsea are currently under interim manager Bruno Saltor, after sacking previous coach Graham Potter last week.
In Bruno’s first game in charge, Chelsea drew 0-0 with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge and before the game, the Spaniard insisted he was unaware how long he would be in charge of the club.
He said: “If I am here right now it’s because Graham and the club, they thought it was the right step and I’m here just trying to help the club and trying to be the most professional I can.”
“I spoke to the owners, they’ve been very supportive. What I’m focused on is train today, tomorrow’s game then after that, step by step.”
Potter’s sacking came after a miserable five months in charge, and despite leading the club to a Champion League quarter-final, has left the club 11th in the Premier League.
New owner Todd Boehly backed Potter heavily in the January transfer market, and the club spent around £300 million on eight new players, including £88.5 million for Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk and a Premier League record £107 million Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Despite insisting on supporting Potter, Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa proved one loss to many, and Chelsea are now looking for a new head coach to take their expensively assembled squad forward.
Enrique may be seen as the most experienced option from those reportedly interested, and out of strong contenders Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte, is the only one to have won the Champions league.
The Spaniard claimed the title while Barcelona coach, beating Juventus 3-1 in the 2005 final as part of a debut season treble.
His last job ended in misery however, as he oversaw the Spanish national side’s defeat to Morocco in the 2022 World Cup.
Despite completing over 1000 passes and maintaining 77% possession, Enrique’s Spanish side were knocked out on penalties after failing to score in open play.
According to The Independent, Chelsea are still insistent that they are not close to a decision.
READ MORE: Chelsea manager search: Top target ‘ready’ to take over ‘immediately’ amid Todd Boehly talks
