Latest reports indicate that former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann is one of the leading candidates to replace Potter at Stamford Bridge.
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Former England and Arsenal player Paul Merson has his say on who should be Chelsea’s next manager following Graham Potter’s exit. He was sacked by the Stamford Bridge outfit following a 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday. Potter was going through a troubled spell at Chelsea with the team failing to play at their usual best. With results and performances not being up to the standard required from a team like Chelsea, it was just a matter of time before the inevitable managerial sacking happened.
Latest reports indicate that former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann is one of the leading candidates to replace Potter at Stamford Bridge. However, Paul Merson wants Brendan Rodgers instead to be the next Chelsea manager. “I would like to see Brendan Rodgers in at Chelsea. Either Rodgers or Mauricio Pochettino, who would have to get off to a flyer at Stamford Bridge given his previous allegiances with Tottenham. If he lost his first two games, there would be mayhem,” he stated in his latest Sky Sports column.
“I’m a big Brendan Rodgers fan. Unfortunately, things have gone horribly wrong at Leicester. In football it all comes down to timing, and let’s be honest, if Leicester were where Brighton are now, everyone would be calling for Rodgers to go to Chelsea. Rodgers ticks every box; he plays on the front foot, he started his coaching career at Chelsea and knows the club. But the timing of the Chelsea job coming up this time hasn’t worked in his favour, with him getting the sack at Leicester four hours before Potter was relieved of his duties.”
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The only issue Merson has with Rodgers is his recent form with Leicester City. After a poor run of performances, Rodgers and Leicester parted ways this weekend. “Chelsea fans will question why they should turn to a manager who has just been sacked by Leicester, but if you look at the all-round picture, Rodgers is a good manager who has worked at top clubs like Liverpool and Celtic, won trophies at Leicester and put them on the brink of Champions League qualification. I just think Rodgers is the one,” he explained.
Merson then went on to explain why he would not prefer Nagelsmann joining Chelsea as their next manager. “I like Bruno Saltor, he’s a good bloke, a top player and professional. He will be in charge for a bit, but I don’t know long, especially with former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann available. Nagelsmann is among the favourites to succeed Potter at Chelsea but hold on a minute,” he added.
“Chelsea got rid of Thomas Tuchel and a few months down the line they bring in the guy who Bayern Munich sacked to bring in Thomas Tuchel. How have Chelsea got the best deal if that comes to fruition? You couldn’t write up a scenario like that. You would end up throwing your book in the sea if you read that on holiday. But then again, it would just about sum up this season at Chelsea.”
