Chelsea are being beaten by Arsenal in preparations for the future
By Travis Tyler
Both Chelsea and Arsenal are preparing for the future with potential managerial change. If rumors are anything to go by, Arsenal is beating Chelsea.
Chelsea have done little to prepare for next season. Supposedly, the Blues were targeting a young and dynamic manager to replace Antonio Conte. Some of those targets are already gone. Chelsea put themselves on a collision course with Paris Saint Germain and appear to have lost. Now it looks as though they are squaring off against Arsenal. As things stand, Arsenal is beating Chelsea.
Matt Law of The Telegraph published two articles, back to back, about Chelsea and Arsenal’s search for a new manager. By comparing the two, it is easy to see how Chelsea are simply throwing darts at the board and hoping something sticks. Arsenal meanwhile, have a much more concrete plan which puts them far ahead of the Blues in being ready for next season.
Chelsea are, allegedly, stuck in two minds. On the one hand, they could go for the tried and true managers of Luis Enrique, Maurizio Sarri, Leonardo Jardim or Massimiliano Allegri. Carlo Ancelotti is viewed as the safety choice and Mauricio Pochettino as the ideal choice.
But Chelsea are also considering getting an up and comer before they hit it big. That list includes Eusebio Di Francesco, Julian Nagelsmann, David Wagner and possibly Eddie Howe. Jardim and Enrique are viewed as part of both camps.
Arsenal also have a list of potential successors. Their top choice is undoubtedly Luis Enrique. They view Nagelsmann and Domenico Tedesco as more realistic options. Jardim, Mikel Arteta and Brendan Rodgers are also being considered.
So that is a total of ten Chelsea targets. Essentially, it is two separate lists with only two managers crossing over. But there is no clear front runner and no indication that anyone is doing much to narrow the list down.
Related Story: Chelsea must not dodge transfer offers for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy
Arsenal, meanwhile, have just six targets. One is clearly prioritized with two clear backups and another three that are being reviewed. This shows that Arsenal know who they want and have contingencies of who comes next.
A clear plan when hunting a manager is necessary to acquire the manager. Most of the names attached to Chelsea are pot shots or completely unrealistic. Every name attached to Arsenal makes sense in some fashion and they all are realistic.
Chelsea have supposedly already lost out on Thomas Tuchel to Paris Saint Germain. If Arsenal are targeting Luis Enrique, their better planning will insure that they get him over the Blues.
And the longer it takes Chelsea to decide A: what they want and B: who they want, the more likely it will be that the dream manager they desire is taken away by someone who has their papers in order.
Arsenal are even planning Arsene Wenger’s exit better than Chelsea are Conte’s. All signs are pointing towards Wenger and Conte both leaving when the season ends. But Arsenal are mindful of keeping rumors down out of respect for Wenger. The Frenchman has only won FA Cups in recent years and yet they want to give him a proper send off. Conte won the title in record breaking fashion last year and he has been slowly pushed out the door with little fanfare.
Next: Chelsea predicted XI for Burnley: Rotation ahead of the FA Cup
As things stand, Chelsea remain in a troubled situation. They want the next exciting thing but cannot decide what that is. And like a child stuck between two toys at the store, they will see other more decisive kids take both. Chelsea will be left with nothing but tears.