Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane ‘are in the running to become Chelsea boss if Graham Potter is sacked’ with pressure on the under-fire head coach intensifying amid a disastrous run of ONE win in 11 matches
- Potter faces a defining next two games as Chelsea boss with pressure mounting
- If he is axed, reports suggest Enrique and Zidane are frontrunners to replace him
- Both managers have also been linked with the vacant Brazil job in recent months
Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane are the frontrunners to take charge of Chelsea if Graham Potter is sacked as head coach, according to reports in Spain.
Potter is under serious pressure at Stamford Bridge amid a disastrous run of form which has seen the Blues claim just one win in 11 matches, and score as many goals in their last six, after spending close to £300million on new signings in January.
While he has received unconditional support from owner Todd Boehly up until this point, it is believed their next two matches against Leeds and Borussia Dortmund could be crucial for the ex-Brighton boss, who has won a mere nine of his 26 games in charge.
Defeat at home to Leeds this weekend and a Champions League exit against Dortmund next Tuesday may force Boehly into another change just five months after parting company with Thomas Tuchel.
Should Potter fall victim to the axe in west London, Sport are reporting that Enrique and Zidane will be in the running to replace him.
Luis Enrique (L) and Zinedine Zidane (R) are in the running to replace Graham Potter at Chelsea
Potter is under increasing pressure at Stamford Bridge amid a disastrous run of one win in 11
Enrique enjoyed success at club level with Barcelona, winning the 2015 Champions League
Zidane won three Champions League titles during his first stint as Real Madrid manager
Enrique has been out of work since leaving his post as Spain manager in the wake of their World Cup last-16 exit against Morocco at the end of last year.
The 52-year-old previously enjoyed great success at club level with Barcelona, guiding them to two Spanish titles, the Champions League and three Copa del Reys.
As for Zidane, he is still waiting for his next move after stepping down as Real Madrid boss for a second time in May 2021.
Across his two spells in charge of Los Blancos, the legendary former France star claimed three Champions League crowns and two LaLiga titles.
Both Zidane and Enrique have been linked with the vacant Brazil job of late, only for the latter to be ruled out of contention this week.
That leaves the former Barca boss free to wait in the wings as Potter continues to fight for his future as Chelsea head coach.
Zidane is believed to remain on Brazil’s shortlist, although it is widely expected that current Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is the leading candidate to take the Selecao reins.
Despite Enrique and Zidane circling, Potter remains convinced he has what it takes to pull Chelsea out of their slump.
‘The results are not good enough for this club we’re not happy with them. We want to try and improve it. I thought the players gave everything today, I’ve got no issues with them,’ he said after their 2-0 defeat away at Tottenham on Sunday.
‘If results aren’t good enough you can’t reply on support for ever. The players are giving everything, they’re hurting. It’s a tough time for us.’
Asked if he was the man to turn the club’s form around, Potter responded: ‘Yeah, I know the personality in the group, the players have been fantastic in the week it just hasn’t quite translated into a result.’