Former Italy boss Marcello Lippi claims he is ready to manage a
big club in English football.
The former Juventus and Internazionale manager, who led The Azzurri
to World Cup glory in Germany last summer, is being tipped as an
ideal replacement for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
Ongoing reports of a rift between Mourinho and Blues owner Roman
Abramovich had led to suggestions that the Portuguese tactician
will leave the Premiership champions come the end of the
season.
Lippi, 58, has now added fuel to the fire by boastfully suggesting
he could do a successful job at a Premiership club like
Chelsea.
"I'm aware that I'm on the wanted list at a number of big clubs,
but specifically at Chelsea, and I regard that as only natural,"
Lippi told The Sun.
"I know I'm a good coach and if anyone is surprised about top clubs
like Chelsea wanting me, then I just point to my record.
"I have coached teams which have reached the Champions League final
four times, I've won Serie A five times and of course the World
Cup, too.
"If anyone thinks that a move to a big English club is beyond me,
then I'd just say 'give me a break'.
"I'm ready, willing and enthusiastic to coach in England, even
though I know that people mistakenly say I can't speak
English.
"What such people forget is that football is multi-lingual - every
major club has players from many different countries and I can
speak enough English and French as well as Italian.
"There are already a number of foreign coaches working in England,
so I cannot see why people might say that Chelsea is not the place
for me.
"It feels wholly understandable after a year out and given my CV
that a big club wants to sign me and I will make my final decision
in May."