REVEALED: THE SECRET TACTICAL PROJECT XAVI DEMANDED BEFORE ACCEPTING THE CHELSEA JOB OFFER
Chelsea has sacked Enzo Maresca following a breakdown in relations. Discover why Barcelona legend Xavi is the top target for 2026.
With Enzo Maresca out at Chelsea, Xavi's previous interest in managing in the Premier League is back in the spotlight.
Also, Holly Willoughby has a new co-host; the latest replacement for Phillip Schofield has been revealed.
Maresca's departure from the Premier League club happened quickly. Tensions had been building at Stamford Bridge for weeks, as they had only managed one win in their last seven games. Fans made their feelings clear after the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
Maresca hinted at problems after Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Everton last month. The last 48 hours have been the worst since I joined. "I didn't feel supported," he said.
When asked to explain, Maresca repeated that he felt unsupported. Now, Chelsea is looking for a new manager, and Barcelona legend Xavi is available.
Xavi has been without a job since leaving Camp Nou in May 2024. He has admitted that he would find a Premier League job hard to resist. Of course, I would consider it. "I don't know where," the Spaniard told The Athletic earlier this year.
I'm in no rush, but I want a good project. Somewhere, I have four years to build something. I'd love to work in the Premier League because I love the passion. In Spain, it's too focused on results.
I'd also be interested in managing a national team; to coach at a World Cup or European Championship is a dream. It's not clear if Chelsea will have a new head coach in place for their game against Manchester City on Sunday.
While Xavi is a contender to replace Maresca, Liam Rosenior seems to be the frontrunner. Rosenior is currently in charge of Strasbourg, which is owned by Chelsea's parent company, and is seen as the most likely choice.
The statement confirming Maresca's exit said, "Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted ways." Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Those wins will always be a key part of the club's history, and we thank him. With big aims still to achieve across four competitions, including Champions League qualification, Enzo and the Club agree that a change gives the team the best chance to improve. We wish Enzo all the best.
The new manager at Stamford Bridge will inherit a team still competing on all fronts, but the team needs fresh energy to get its season back on track.
XAVI OPENLY DECLARES INTEREST IN CHELSEA JOB DURING PERMANENT MANAGER SEARCH
With Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola on the shortlist, explore why Xavi Hernández wants to take over the Chelsea hotseat next.
Xavi has openly said he’d love to manage Chelsea, and now the Blues are hunting for someone to replace Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior got the sack last month after a rough patch just three months into his huge contract that was supposed to last six and a half years. Calum McFarlane is filling in as interim head coach until season’s end, but Chelsea are actively looking for a permanent boss for the 2026/27 campaign.
They're considering some big names. Xabi Alonso’s been mentioned; he’s been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January. Andoni Iraola, who’s about to leave Bournemouth, is also on the shortlist.
Cesc Fabregas has been linked after his strong run at Como, and Frank Lampard’s in the mix too, fresh off winning the Championship with Coventry and securing promotion.
But Xavi really stands out. He’s already made it clear he’s interested in the Chelsea job. Back in 2019, before his Barcelona return, he said, “I don’t hide it; my goal is to come back to Europe and to Barca. It's my challenge, but I’m enjoying this current project. For me, training a team in Barcelona would be a privilege, the biggest privilege.”
He didn’t just talk about Spain either. “Honestly, who doesn’t love the Premier League? The atmosphere, packed stadiums, everyone says it’s incredible,” Xavi admitted. “If I had to pick, I’d go for a big team: City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Tottenham. Klopp, Pochettino, and Unai Emery are doing amazing work there.”
After returning to Barcelona in 2021, Xavi led them to a La Liga title and the Supercopa de España before Hansi Flick took over in 2024. He’s been out of work since.
Now, Chelsea seems seriously interested in the Spaniard. According to The i, the club wants someone who can embed a strong football identity across their teams, something Enzo Maresca started.
Getting Xavi won’t be easy, though. Morocco’s national team reportedly sees him as a top candidate to replace Walid Regragui, and Manchester United is eyeing him too as they weigh options beyond Michael Carrick.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite for the Chelsea role, but word is he’d want more control over club decisions if he moves to west London.
COLE PALMER MISSES PENALTY AS CHELSEA SUFFER HISTORIC SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE DEFEAT
Chelsea matched a 1912 record with their 6th straight loss, falling 3-1 to Forest as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at the Bridge.
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Chelsea hit rock bottom again, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. That’s six Premier League defeats in a row now, something the club hadn’t seen since 1912. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any worse, Forest showed up with a makeshift lineup and absolutely stunned them. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice, one barely a minute into the match, and then Igor Jesus put away a penalty, and suddenly Forest was six points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea hadn’t scored in five games, and it looked like that streak would go on forever. Then, in stoppage time, Joao Pedro finally managed an overhead kick to break the drought. That run was made even more ridiculous earlier when Cole Palmer missed a first-half penalty. Matz Sels, Forest’s backup goalkeeper, saved it.
Honestly, the crowd in the Shed End probably barely recognised their own team. Pereira swapped in seven new outfield players, most of them with almost no league experience; he was clearly thinking about the upcoming Europa League semi-final. But it looked like Chelsea was the stranger out there.
Things only got worse for interim head coach Calum McFarlane. He lost Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to late injuries, so 18-year-old Jesse Derry had to make his Premier League debut. Then, late in the first half, Derry collided heads with Forest’s Zach Abbott and had to be stretchered off after getting oxygen. It was brutal to watch.
The match itself? Chaos. Less than two minutes in, Chelsea messed up their own throw-in and let Forest stroll through midfield. Dilane Bakwa beat Marc Cucurella with little effort and crossed to Awoniyi, who was completely unmarked and headed it in.
Fifteen minutes later, Chelsea conceded again. Bakwa whipped in another cross; Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt, and VAR handed Forest a penalty. Jesus hammered it right down the middle.
The first half was hopeless, and by the end, serious concern set in after that nasty head clash between Derry and Abbott. Abbott, playing just his second league game, left on his own, but Derry needed serious treatment and was stretchered off.
After a nearly ten-minute stoppage, Palmer’s penalty was stopped by Sels. At halftime, Levi Colwill returned from a major injury he hadn’t played since tearing his ACL in August. He tried to restore order, but nothing changed.
Forest’s third goal came just seven minutes into the second half. Gibbs-White crossed, and Awoniyi tapped in from close range, just managing to stay onside. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, took a knock and left with a bandaged head after colliding with Gibbs-White.
Pedro’s late goal barely counted for anything. The few Chelsea fans left in the stadium cheered, but it was more out of irony than joy.
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