Wild managerial talk abounds at Chelsea
Despite enduring a run of one win in five while dealing with the absences of John Terry, Michael Essien and Frank Lampard, Chelsea are only two points off the top of the Premier League, however that hasn't calmed speculation that double-winning manager Carlo Ancelotti's days are numbered.
The departure of assistant Ray Wilkins and planned exit of sporting director Frank Arnesen at the end of the season has convinced some papers that Roman Abramovich could be planning his sixth managerial appointment despite the lack of success chopping and changing has brought in the past.
There have been rumours - inspired by claims that Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain is a target to replace Arnesen - that Pep Guardiola could be brought in for Ancelotti, but the Blues have moved quickly to dismiss them as "total nonsense".
Equally bewildering are the reports in The Independent today that if Ancelotti has had enough at Chelsea, he could be offered the chance to flee west London by Roma, who he spent eight years with as a player.
While the Giallorossi lost in Palermo yesterday, that result followed victory over Champions League finalists Bayern Munich in midweek and an eight-match unbeaten run, so given that Claudio Ranieri inspired an unlikely title challenge last season, it would be ludicrous to axe him right now.
It's equally doubtful that Ancelotti would decide to move to Rome before a takeover is completed, as that would mean leaving a club capable of challenging for three trophies for one where he wouldn't even be aware who his boss would be in the long-term.
Do you share our scepticism regarding these rumours? Tell us below...
Published: 29 Nov 2010
Terry Dunn (November 29, 2010 4:27 PM) said:
maybe wrong but believe the turmoil at SB started with the terrible way Butch Wilkins was sacked, up to that point the Blues were cruising to another Premier win.
why cant the management issue a statement explaining the reasons which would maybe give some closure to whole sorry event?.