Chelsea could have appointed Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank as their manager.
Frank recently revealed that he held talks with Chelsea over becoming their head coach.
While they are currently just outside the top four in the Premier League table, Tottenham have not convinced in attack under Frank this season.
Chelsea fans will be glad that it is Enzo Maresca in the Stamford Bridge dugout instead of the Dane. However, there is another Premier League manager they would have happily welcomed to west London.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets Liverpool manager Arne Slot before the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Chelsea wanted Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola after Jose Mourinho sacking
According to a report from the Daily Mail in 2015, Roman Abramovich was desperate to make Pep Guardiola Jose Mourinho’s successor after sacking the Portuguese.
Chelsea won the 2014/15 Premier League title under Mourinho but completely capitulated in the 2015/16 campaign, resulting in the Special One’s dismissal.
In the end, though, Guardiola went on to sign for Manchester City, while Antonio Conte became the permanent successor to Mourinho.
By the conclusion of the 2016/17 season, Conte actually looked like a better appointment than Guardiola, as Chelsea went on to win the title and finish 15 points above City.
However, since then, the Citizens have won six Premier League crowns with Guardiola at the helm, while Conte was sacked by Chelsea after just two years in charge.
Fast forward to now, and Maresca would love to guide the Blues to their first title in nine years.
Of course, Frank also wanted that opportunity. “Sitting down for interviews with two of the 10 biggest clubs in the world [Chelsea and Manchester United] — two hours apart — is pretty unique,” he told TV 2 Sport.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank looking focused
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Pep Guardiola’s Premier League record against Chelsea
While Tottenham lost to Chelsea this season, Frank has a pretty good record against the Blues, and so does Guardiola.
Since arriving in England, the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager has beaten Chelsea 11 times in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s Premier League record vs Chelsea Total
Matches 18
Wins 11
Draws 2
Losses 5
Goals scored 31
Goals conceded 19
Win percentage 61%
Via Transfermarkt
John Terry would have loved to play under Guardiola, and it is not hard to see why. Unfortunately for the former defender and Chelsea, he could not be lured to Stamford Bridge.