r/NortheastBlues

Gullit Further said, "Any manager would see what I see and say: ‘I need experienced players. I need a Casemiro, a [Aurelien] Tchouameni. I need these types of players in midfield. I need this kind of experience alongside the young talent.

The only thing that is certain for a Chelsea manager is that he gets fired. That's the only certainty. And as a coach you have to learn to adapt to the club's philosophy. Does it match yours? And do you get the players you need to do what you want to do?.

Pep Guardiola got all the players he wanted. That's why he's been successful. But if you told Pep, ‘Deal with what we give you’, he wouldn't come. Mourinho wouldn't come. Klopp wouldn't come. [Carlo] Ancelotti wouldn't come. They know what the right formula is."

didn't play, it was them!"'

Emmanuel Emegha's attempts to settle the Strasbourg Ultras after they were dumped out of the Conference League to Rayo Vallecano don't exactly go according to plan.

Chelsea are leaning towards a coaching ideology already set down by the four years of the ownership so far. The feeling is that the club have made significant progress in instilling a football identity that is now visible in the academy right down through the age groups. Xavi Hernandez has become a name more prominently mentioned. He has been out of work since leaving Barcelona in 2024. The Catalan now wants a “project” that would allow more space than Spanish football usually allows. Chelsea consequently wants to persevere with a coach of similar principles, which is how Xavi Hernandez has come into a conversation that also includes Xabi Alonso, Porto's Franceso Farioli and Como’s Cesc Fabregas via MiguelDelaney)

Chelsea are preparing the shortlist for head coach position in summer Xavi has not received approached from the Blues.Xavi remains open to taking new job after Barcelona chapter, open also to new experience in England or different leagues. Chelsea initial list currently includes different candidates - Fabrizio Romano

Fierce negotiator Behdad Eghbali and best-in-class recruiters may not be as far from striking gold at Stamford Bridge as some would suggest.

Chelsea’s sporting directors feed their work into co-owner Behdad Eghbali, who has the final say on signings. Like his Premier League counterparts, Eghbali is described as a fierce negotiator. The intermediaries spoken to by Telegraph say he is tough but fair, while those brought in to head up recruitment are the best in class.

Where Behdad Eghbali does drive a hard bargain is the asking price for departing players. Like most successful businessmen, he is not in the habit of selling under value. It has led to some players staying at Chelsea when the deal was not right for them to leave, even when they were clearly not in the head coach’s plans.

There is a hint at small changes rather than ripping up the plan of signing the best young players and committing them to long-term contracts at Chelsea.

- Mike McGrath [via The Telegraph]