Former Spain manager Luis Enrique has falled down Chelsea’s shortlist manager candidates after reportedly making demands during talks a fortnight ago.
Earlier, Fabrizio Romano claimed that the Blues were not happy with their recent conversations with Enrique, who now is no longer among the leading candidates to be the next permanent manager at Stamford Bridge.
This might have to do with “several demands” that the 52-year-old made a couple of weeks ago, which according to The Guardian, put doubts over his chances of succeeding Frank Lampard at Chelsea.
This likely referred to Enrique’s reported visit to London alongside his agent.
It is unclear what these demands are, but Spanish football expert Graham Hunter, who said he knew Enrique really well, might have already explained it.
“He’s an extremely driven man,” Hunter told Sky Sports (via Football Daily) when speaking about Enrique earlier this month.
“I know firsthand that his English is very good and he’s been practicing it, and he absolutely desire to work in England.
“He won’t go to any club where he doesn’t think that he has an outright chance of competing for big trophies.
“He will specifically — again, I know this firsthand — want to know that the club that is inviting him to talk has absolute knowledge of his method and ideas and will sign off his total commitment to attacking football.
“If he doesn’t feel the club that approaches him have all those boxes ticked, he’ll turn down any job.”
Based on Hunter’s claims, even if Chelsea were to agree to give Enrique full rein, the club are unlikely to be able to compete for big trophies, at least right away as he might want.
Firstly, the Blues will almost certainly be without Champions League football next season.
In addition to that, Chelsea have a relatively young squad, and challenging for the Premier League titles, while not possible, is not exactly a realistic target for next season.
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