Paul Winstanley really likes 44-year-old manager, but not everyone at Chelsea does

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It looks like Chelsea co-sporting director Paul Winstanley could push for one manager if Mauricio Pochettino is sacked.

Mauricio Pochettino is under pressure with Chelsea performing so poorly in the Premier League this season.

The Blues are currently 12th in the table, though they do have a couple of games in hand.

Nevertheless, that is still not good enough and quite a few managers are now being linked to the club.

That includes the likes of Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi.

Paul Winstanley favourite

As co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart will be expected to compose a shortlist of managers if Pochettino is removed from the Stamford Bridge dugout.

One potential option for Chelsea could be close to home.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Winstanley likes De Zerbi, though it does not appear that everyone at Chelsea is on the same page as him.

On his Substack, Phillips wrote: “Obviously Paul Winstanley likes him, but I heard it’s not yet a view that was universally shared at Chelsea, so we will have to see if they even want to go for him first, if it gets to that stage.”

Why does Paul Winstanley like Roberto De Zerbi?

De Zerbi has really proven himself in the Premier League, guiding Brighton to sixth last season.

The 44-year-old also has the Seagulls playing some really good football.

Brighton have become a dominant team under De Zerbi, averaging 62.3% ball possession this term. Only Manchester City (65.5%) have a higher average in the division (WhoScored).

De Zerbi is not the worst shout in the world, though the chairman of one football club does not seem to be his biggest fan.

While the Italian is doing quite well in the English top flight, if Pochettino is dismissed, you cannot help but feel that Chelsea need a proven winner after what has happened to the club over the last couple of years.