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By Martin Graham | 23rd Apr 2023
Former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has implied that he never considered the Chelsea role amidst news of him turning it down.
Sacked by the German Bundesliga champions during the international break, the 35-year-old was earmarked for the Chelsea job alongside three others: Luis Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino and Vincent Kompany. The same names are on Tottenham Hotspur’s wishlist and it is a race between both London clubs to convince their most preferred options to ditch one for the other.
Several members of the Chelsea hierarchy have their preferred choices. A few love Kompany’s work at Burnley and believe he could turn Chelsea around with his bright ideas. Others like the experience of Luis Enrique while some believe in Pochettino’s vast Premier League experience.
Those who see Nagelsmann as the best choice will be disappointed, however, as the former Red Bull Leipzig manager ruled himself out of contention for the job. When asked why he chose against moving to Stamford Bridge, he said to Sky Sport Germany: “To cancel something, you have to commit to something.”
His decision and statement came after former Germany international Matthias Sammer advised him against the move.
Sammer said to BILD: “With the structure: I would clearly advise him against it. There is unrest coming from the leadership, from someone who wants to influence but who doesn’t seem to have a clue. That will always have some influence.”
Nagelsmann’s decision leaves the club with only Kompany, Enrique and Pochettino to choose from. Kompany is unlikely because of his commitment to help Burnley stay in the Premier League ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Enrique is also losing steam as a popular candidate despite reports on him being the closest and his statement implying that he is ready to take on the Premier League.
“I follow above all the Premier [League] because I would like to go to England to work, he said. “I wouldn’t go to any team but to one that could do important things, which greatly reduces the number. I don’t put my hopes up, really, because there are many candidates.
“I am lucky because my personal life fills me up. That it takes longer, that no offers arrive, well, it is what it is. I would go to a team with possibilities. That doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t work in Spain.”
All signs now point to Pochettino, with reports also claiming that he impressed in his recent discussions with the club’s chiefs.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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