The manager hunt at Stamford Bridge remains active, with the Blues’ top-three options made clear. But another Chelsea are pushing hard to convince has just been praised by Andre Villas-Boas.
According to numerous reports, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham manager Marco Silva and former Real Madrid gaffer Xabi Alonso are top of the list. But plenty of others are being considered.
Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge dugout? RUN IT BACK!
Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner would be Joe Cole’s shout, with Glasner and Niko Kovac also said to be on the radar. Another being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge has just won the Portuguese title.
Porto manager Francesco Farioli’s stock has never been higher after struggling at Ajax and indifferent spells in Turkey. Yet, his work at Porto this season has been majestic, seeing off the challenge of Benfica.
Andre Villas-Boas heaps praise on Porto boss Francesco Farioli
Having worked as Roberto De Zerbi’s goalkeeping coach at Italian clubs like Sassuolo and Benevento, Farioli moved into management with two spells in Turkey at Fatih Karagumruk and then Alanyaspor.
Nice followed, in France, before Ajax and then Porto. It is fair to say Farioli has not always been largely successful throughout his career but this season, that has changed. Andre Villas-Boas saw something.
The former Chelsea manager is now Porto’s president and ahead of Porto’s 1-0 win over Alverca last night, which secured the Liga NOS title, Villas-Boas heaped praise on Farioli for guiding Porto to the title.
Speaking to Rádio Renascença, as per One Football, Villas-Boas addressed Farioli’s past struggles and explained that his spell in France caught his eye before describing Farioli’s methods as revolutionary.
“He deserved to have been successful at Ajax. But if he had been, then he certainly would not be at FC Porto. I became aware of Farioli more through his work in France,” Porto’s president summarised.
“That was when he finally established himself as a coach, as someone revolutionary in his ideas, in his method, and in the way he asserted his leadership,” Villas-Boas continued, ahead of Porto’s title win.
Francesco Farioli’s stunning win rate during Porto spell
When Farioli was hired, the reception to his appointment was mixed. Many felt Villas-Boas was wrong to bring the Italian to Portugal, and not just to a mid-table club, but to a side expected to win every game.
DISCUSS: Farioli’s winning mentality is exactly what Chelsea need.
Three wins every four games is remarkable.
Well, the perception has certainly changed. Farioli has won 38 of 51 games in charge, clocking up an astonishing 27 wins in 32 league games and losing only once in Liga Nos. A truly incredible achievement.
Farioli boasts a win rate just under 75%, and at a club like Porto, also fighting in European competition, that is some record. Even a young Porto fan told Farioli to stay, informing him that London “is cold”.
Chelsea are supposedly pushing hard to convince Farioli to consider a move to Stamford Bridge. But Porto fans and Villas-Boas will be desperate to enter the new season with Farioli in the dugout.
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