The
contenders
CHELSEA plan to interview Frank Rijkaard and
Roberto Mancini next week.
The Blues have not yet spoken directly to either coach
— but they are the front-runners after Carlo Ancelotti announced he
is staying at AC Milan.
Chelsea officials decided on a ‘cooling off period’
after Ancelotti’s snub.
With Euro 2008 kicking off tomorrow, they hope to hold
talks with the pair without the eyes of the football world on
them.
Rijkaard and Mancini were sacked at the end of last
season from Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively.
Both rejected the chance to replace Jose Mourinho 16
months ago.
But with potential replacements for Avram Grant
dwindling, it has been decided to ask both coaches to prove why
they should be the next boss at Stamford Bridge.
Rijkaard has the support of some of Abramovich’s
advisors including Chelsea academy director Frank Arnesen and Rom’s
football consultant Piet de Visser.
The Dutchman has recently suffered some personal
problems, however, and Chelsea are wary they may be dragged to
London with him.
Likewise, Mancini has been caught up in allegations
that he called a suspected drug dealer during his time at
Inter.
Though the coach is not suspected of anything illegal,
his mobile number was discovered to have made calls to a police
suspect as part of a wider investigation.
That information made it into the Italian media at the
time he was sacked and Mancini has threatened to sue Inter if he
can prove they were behind it.
Again, Chelsea are extremely wary of employing a
manager who brings that kind of baggage with him but are beginning
to run out of options.