Former Premier League Champions Chelsea are entering a seriously testing phase in their history as issues surrounding the manager and the owner have taken centre stage this summer. The Blues are desperate to replace Antonio Conte, who won the league title in his first season in England and a number of names have already been touted as alternatives.
However, one name now close to signing for Chelsea is Luis Enrique.
Chelsea To Appoint Enrique Next Week
The Blues were interested in the likes of Maurizio Sarri and Laurent Blanc recently but the Italian’s sketchy past and the French manager’s lack of interest has seen them turn to former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique.
Not playing in the Champions League might be a hurdle in signing Enrique but reports suggest that Chelsea have finally made the decision to replace Conte with the Spaniard. So how will Enrique change Chelsea?
Luis Enrique And His Achievements
Having won almost everything possible in Spain with fierce rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, as a player, the 48-year old was appointed as the manager at Camp Nou in 2014. With a front line of Luis Suarez, Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi, he helped Barcelona to the treble, winning the UCL title, and the Copa del Rey along with the domestic league title.
He won the domestic brace in his second season and only the Copa del Rey in his last but gave the Catalans loads of memories, losing just 21 games in three full seasons in all competitions.
Known to be a fitness freak, Enrique wants his players to work hard and is adept at getting the best out of the star players in his squad. His organisation and tactical expertise were quite visible in Barcelona’s treble-winning season and is a system that can be replicated at most top clubs in Europe.
He has been out of a job since leaving Camp Nou in 2017 but has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and PSG and is a decent replacement for Conte.
How Will He Change Chelsea?
For years now, Chelsea have not been a team that can blow sides away. Conte, and Jose Mourinho before that, spent a lot of time in making their defence strong. But up top, Eden Hazard has been their main source of creativity. They have the likes of Willian, Pedro, Fabregas and Antonio Conte, making their squad a strong one, but Conte has failed to bring the best out of them.
However, Enrique, who depends more on organisation and tactical astuteness, is sure to get Chelsea playing to the strength of their talisman Hazard. Enrique is also good at giving youngsters some opportunity, which could also change the much-criticised loan system at Stamford Bridge.
He is relatively inexperienced outside Spain but has the tools to make an impact in the Premier League. But do you think he is the right man for Chelsea?