According to English football journalist Sam Wallace Chelsea regretted sacking manager Carlo Ancelotti back in 2011, and could be offering him a return should Antonio Conte really quit the club in the near future.
There has been an awkward amount of reports circulating around Conte’s Chelsea future, as every time the Blues have lost a game, the British media have gone on to bring up the Italian tactician’s ‘uncertain plans’ to publicity.
Should the speculation eventually turn out to be true, Chelsea would need a well-known and secure replacement to fill Conte’s boots. Could Ancelotti, who was sacked by Bayern Munich only days ago, be the one then?
We don’t know for sure, but Wallace believes it could make sense for the club to re-sign their former manager – just like they did with Jose Mourinho.
“Ancelotti has pretty much been panned in Germany as tactically not up to managing their great club [Bayern]. The mistake Chelsea always felt was that they were too trigger happy with Ancelotti, sacking him the season after he won the double.
If Conte doesn’t last until the end of the season, which is incredible to say, would Ancelotti come back in the middle of the season? Stranger things have happened.
Ancelotti himself has stated to be taking a break from management until the end of the season, but a second chance at Stamford Bridge could be slightly too tempting to turn down.
“They need someone who is out of work and ready to step in. It would be really interesting seeing him back at Chelsea.
The fact is Chelsea have sacked so many managers that they will have to start employing ones they have already had, as they did with Mourinho.”
– Sam Wallace, Sky Sports
Ancelotti was hired in the summer of 2009, and he was able to win both the Premier League and FA Cup trophy on his maiden season. He also clinched the Community Shield in the beginning of the campaign, meaning he basically won the treble – if Manchester United fans’ logic is valid here. However, finishing second in the league in 2010/11 was not enough for the club and Roman Abramovich went on to pull the trigger.
The return of Ancelotti might sound like quite exciting, but it’s still way too early to say good bye to Conte, who Chelsea really should tie up long-term. But if the club hierarchy doesn’t change and back the manager instead of limiting his actions, why would Conte like to stay?
