Pretty much every top coach in world football who might be available this summer has been linked to Chelsea since Graham Potter was sacked just over a week ago, so we weren’t surprised to see Marcelo Gallardo’s name thrown into the discussion.
The Argentine has just left River Plate after an exceptional spell in charge of the Argentine giants, and has since been biding his time waiting for the right offer from European football. We didn’t think he was a front runner – the fact he has no European experience seemed sure to count against him as Chelsea desperately hunt for a sure fire hit to follow Potter’s flop.
But reports in Argentina today from reliable sources as really pushing the idea that it could happen, and we are starting to take notice.
Marcelo Gallardo | Claim manager ‘close’ to taking Chelsea job
• Enzo Fernández has ‘given go-ahead’
• Ex-River Plate boss is ‘practically like a father’ to himhttps://t.co/nze7G7Tf67 #cfc— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) April 11, 2023
Sportwitness have translated claims from UOL in Brazil which claim that Gallardo is “close” to joining Chelsea – which seems extreme. But it shows the conviction on their end that this is real.
He managed Enzo Fernandez at River, another connection to the Blues, and if the sporting directors are feeling risky, there are few managers with more potential upside out there than Gallardo.
