Former Chelsea manager claims he’d never take over relegation-threatened club

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One former Chelsea boss is in love with the Premier League but has made it clear that he will never manage a club battling relegation.

He will not be returning to Chelsea anytime soon, with Enzo Maresca on a five-year contract in west London and currently doing well there.

The Blues are fifth in the table at the moment, just one point outside of the Champions League spots. Maresca was recently praised by Gary Lineker for the job he has done so far.

Maresca can make a real statement when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford this Sunday to take on Manchester United.

• READ MORE: Jose Mourinho says he would have signed ‘fantastic’ player Chelsea really wanted

Jose Mourinho not interested in relegation battle

Jose Mourinho recently made some comments about managing a team at the bottom of the Premier League table and not in any of UEFA’s competitions after being sent off in Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw with United.

However, he has since clarified those comments, saying it was a joke and that he would never take over a club fighting for survival.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the 61-year-old said: “It’s a joke with deep feelings… even knowing the Premier League is the best competition in Europe, I’d never go to the Premier League to play for a team that is on the relegation. I will never go.”

Chelsea will not hire Jose Mourinho again

When Mourinho is finished with Fenerbahce, the Special One would probably welcome a return to Chelsea for a third spell in charge.

The Blues are one of the best clubs in England and managing them would give Mourinho the chance to come back to London.

Unfortunately for him, though, Chelsea have moved on from hiring a manager of his profile. Today, it is all about young and exciting coaches who play a possession and pressing game like Maresca.

Mourinho will argue his football brings trophies, but that will not be enough to convince Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

If that was what the Chelsea owners were going off, then Maresca would have never been hired. If Mourinho does want to come back to the Premier League one day, he may very well have to settle for a team near the bottom.