The departing Barcelona boss has recently been linked with a switch to the West London club.
Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez has been told to avoid accepting any offers from Chelsea if the Premier League side make overtures.
08:06 - 27.05.2024
Why Xavi's departure from Barcelona signals tough road ahead
Xavi Hernández has reflected on his tenure at Barcelona and the challenges ahead as he exits following a 2-1 win over Sevilla.
The outgoing Blaugrana boss was let go by the club, having initially been convinced to stay on in April following his January decision to depart. That has prompted criticism of the LaLiga side’s treatment of a club legend and former captain, who are reportedly set to appoint Hansi Flick.
Xavi has been linked to Chelsea’s vacant head coach role following the Premier League club parting company with Mauricio Pochettino last week. The West London club reportedly have an interest in Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca and Brentford’s Thomas Frank, having dropped their chase of Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna.
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Xavi’s name has also been mentioned, even though the extent of Chelsea’s keenness on the Barcelona legend is still to be determined.
The former midfielder has been advised to avoid moving to the three-time Premier League champions because of the instability at Cobham by ESPN’s Alejandro Moreno, even if he has experience coaching a young core of players at a big club with high expectations.
18:06 - 26.05.2024
Chelsea set to contact Xavi to replace Mauricio Pochettino
Days after he was sacked by Barcelona, reports surfaced that Chelsea are set to contact Xavi Hernandez to replace Mauricio Pochettino.
“If you look at it from that perspective (coaching young players at Chelsea as he did at Barcelona), I assume that it makes sense,” said the retired Venezuela international turned pundit on ESPN.
“However, I believe Xavi has gone through a draining experience. I would suggest he takes some time off.
“An opportunity like Chelsea would be interesting. The problem is, you had in Barcelona a fickle team president and going to Chelsea is a fickle situation. I believe you need some time off before jumping into something like this.”
What comes next for Chelsea?
The West London club hope to appoint a new head coach in the coming days, keen for the boss h to be in situ before the start of the club’s preseason.