Chelsea next manager target delivers official response to rumours
Updated: 29 Apr 2026 05:42 BST |
5 min read
Chelsea have suffered a blow in their search for a new manager after one of their reported targets reiterated he is “really happy” at his current club.
The Blues are seeking a new permanent head coach following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, who lasted just 106 days in charge of the club.
Rosenior, who only succeeded Enzo Maresca in the Stamford Bridge hot seat in January, was sacked after presiding over a poor run of form which saw Chelsea lose five Premier League matches in a row without scoring a goal.
After deciding to part ways with Rosenior, Chelsea installed Calum McFarlane as interim manager for the second time this season, with the academy coach having also taken charge of two games following Maresca’s departure at the start of the year.
Chelsea have been linked with a host of permanent replacements for Rosenior, with outgoing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and Fulham boss Marco Silva believed to be well-regarded by the club’s hierarchy.
Cesc Fabregas, who spent four-and-a-half seasons with Chelsea as a player between 2014 and 2019, has also been linked with an emotional return, having emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches at Serie A side Como.
One man who appears to be keen to stay put at his current employers, however, is Porto boss Francesco Farioli, who has distanced himself from reports linking him with the Chelsea post.
In an interview with Portuguese outlet sport tv following the 2-1 victory over Estrela Amadora which kept Porto seven points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Liga Portugal title race, Farioli said when asked about Chelsea: “I’m the coach of Porto and I’m really happy to be here.”
And it is not the first time Farioli has expressed his desire to remain at Porto beyond this season.
The 37-year-old, who acted as a goalkeeping coach for current Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto Di Zerbi with Italian sides Benevento and Sassuolo before forging his own path as a manager, said he was “totally committed” to Porto in January.
“Here in Porto, I truly believe that there is something more, something deeper, in terms of connection and relationship with the president and with the club,” Farioli said. “From my side, I am totally committed to the club and totally connected to the reality we are living in.
“Because maybe here for the first time in my life, I have the feeling that you can try to add something on top of a strong foundation, to build the first floor and keep building something over time.”
After starting his managerial career with spells at Turkish sides Fatih Karagumruk and Alanyaspor, Farioli spent one year in charge of Ligue 1 outfit Nice, leading the club to a fifth-place finish in 2023-24.
Farioli then joined Dutch giants Ajax in the summer of 2024, departing after his side missed out on the Eredivisie title to bitter rivals PSV on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign – despite holding a nine-point lead with just five matches remaining.
Analysis: Chelsea only in early stages of finding Rosenior successor
While several head coaches continue to be linked with replacing Rosenior as Chelsea’s next permanent boss, talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs claims the club are only believed to be in the early stages of identifying the former Strasbourg manager’s successor.
Despite Farioli reiterating his focus remains with Porto for the foreseeable future, the Italian has only tentatively been linked with the vacant Chelsea post, with Iraola, Silva and Fabregas believed to be the current frontrunners.
For the time being, Chelsea appear to be in good hands with interim boss McFarlane, who guided the west Londoners to the FA Cup final following a 1-0 win over Leeds United in Sunday’s semi-final at Wembley Stadium. They face Manchester City in the showpiece on Saturday, 16 May.
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Chelsea receive fresh Enzo Fernandez transfer hint
Ranking Chelsea’s 10 potential Liam Rosenior replacements
Chelsea Transfer News Today: Estevao exit threat as €120m offer prepared
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