‘No Contact’: Fabrizio Romano Dismisses Chelsea Links With Former Coach

Chelsea have reportedly made no contact with Antonio Conte, contrary to recent reports from Italian sources. The manager has been out of work since leaving Tottenham in March 2023.

Chelsea Have Shown No Interest in Re-Hiring Italian Manager

Late Salvation for Pochettino?

Reports about Chelsea’s possible decision to sack Mauricio Pochettino have been circulating for months. The Blues have struggled for consistency all season while most of their high-profile signings have been underperforming under the Argentine boss.

However, a string of unexpected results have boosted Pochettino’s chances of keeping his job in the past two weeks. The Blues held Aston Villa to a draw at Villa Park before beating Tottenham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Another London derby on Sunday saw Pochettino’s men thrash West Ham 5-0 with a brilliant attacking display.

Securing a Europa League spot will most likely keep Pochettino in charge ahead of the next season, but with Chelsea having only three league games to play, such an achievement is far from certain.

A Move for Conte?

Last week, a report from La Repubblica claimed that Chelsea have already entered talks with Antonio Conte over his potential return to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, there has been no contact between Conte and his former club in recent weeks. The Italian boss is said to be “open to a new opportunity” as he wants to return to coaching as soon as possible, but a return to Chelsea remains off the table for now.

Which Managers Are Linked With Chelsea?

Conte is the last manager to have led the Blues to the Premier League title, winning the trophy in 2017. However, the club’s new owners are seemingly interested in hiring a younger coach.

The Guardian’s Jacob Stenberg has named Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim as the frontrunners to replace Pochettino. However, Hansi Flick is also a “strong candidate” for the job, according to reports in Germany. A fan-favourite option, Thomas Tuchel, is heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United upon his expected departure from Bayern Munich this summer.