According to sources, Brentford’s Thomas Frank was not chosen as Chelsea’s new manager due to his playing style.
The Blues have officially confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new manager, with the Italian signing a five-year contract with an option for an additional year.
Maresca leaves Leicester after only one season in charge, having led the club back to the Premier League by winning the Championship.
Following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea officials promptly put together a four-man shortlist to replace the Argentine.
Roberto De Zerbi and Kieran McKenna joined Frank and Maresca on the list, with the Ipswich manager considered the early front-runner for the post.
Frank apparently met with Chelsea numerous times, but the seriousness of those talks is unknown, and the Dane ultimately missed out on the Stamford Bridge hot seat.
Following Maresca’s appointment, The Athletic claimed that Frank missed out on the style of play front, with his game perceived as more defensive than possession-based, and there were also questions about whether he suited the Chelsea group.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea respected De Zerbi as a manager, but were put off by the amount of clubs he had managed in a short period of time, as well as conflicts with Brighton over transfer strategy, thus he was never seriously considered.
Maresca will face pressure to return Chelsea to the Champions League and bring silverware to west London.
The Europa Conference League gives an excellent opportunity for the 44-year-old to win a trophy in his first season in command, but Chelsea must first overcome a two-legged play-off in August.
Maresca is the club’s fifth manager, counting Bruno Saltor’s one game in charge and third permanent appointment under new ownership.
This appointment, more than any other, must work, but it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will give the Italian the time and patience he requires.
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