Chelsea legend Claude Makelele wants answers as to why the Blues did not appoint Luis Enrique when they had the chance.
The former Barcelona boss stands on the brink of European immortality once more. His Paris Saint-Germain side face Inter Milan in the Champions League final, where victory would see him lift the big-eared European crown for the second time.
Enrique, 55, has turned PSG's youngsters into one of the fastest and most terrifying attacking teams on the planet. However, before he took the job in the summer of 2023, he was one of several candidates for the vacant role at Stamford Bridge, when Graham Potter was sacked.
Reports from Spanish outlet AS at the time claimed the experienced coach wanted to takeover from Potter immediately, so he could take charge against Real Madrid, who were facing the Blues in the Champions League quarter-final.
Enrique is also understood to have had face-to-face meetings with the board over Zoom and in person, where he outlined his desires to takeover. However, the Chelsea board were unconvinced and proceeded to appoint Frank Lampard as interim manager, before hiring Mauricio Pochettino in the summer.
With Enrique on the cusp of winning his second Champions League title, Makelele, while accepting it's not a guarantee that Chelsea would be playing like PSG had Enrique moved to London instead, hinted that the Blues made a mistake not bringing in the Spaniard. In an exclusive interview with Football London, Makelele, who was speaking on behalf of bet365, said: "I was not at Chelsea, I think you need to ask the president of Chelsea 'Why did you not take him?'"
While contemplating how Enrique may have fared at Stamford Bridge, the ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder added: "You know, some managers, they come from a different club and it is different. Now, he plays possession, but maybe in the Premier League, where it is all box-to-box, you cannot always have possession.
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique, who has challenged his players to write themselves into the club's history by winning the Champions League. Issue date: Tuesday May 27, 2025
Enrique is on the cusp of winning his second Champions League (Image: PA)
"Sometimes, you’d have to play in a different way. I think the opportunity he has had at Paris Saint-Germain was to play his own popular style from before, when he was at Barcelona.
"Many people forget he went to Barcelona and knew exactly what he would do with his team. He had a lot of people criticise him about the way he played, but he was focussed on his ideas and now everybody is giving him praise - this is football.
"This is football, sometimes the manager needs time, but he only needed a short amount of time. This is amazing. I know the player, I know the manager, because I played against him. I know exactly how he feels football. It’s important for Paris Saint-Germain to have this kind of manager.”
Claude Makelele standing in front of a Bet365 advertisement board for the Champions League
Makelele was speaking on behalf of bet365 before the Champions League final (Image: Hatch Group)
Reports from Spain also claimed Enrique was "disappointed" that the club opted to appoint Lampard on an interim basis. As well as being knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, Lampard only recorded one victory in his 11 matches in charge of the west Londoners.
Meanwhile, Enrique's arrival at PSG in the summer of 2023 prompted the start of a new approach for the French giants, who began investing in Europe's best young talent, instead of signing superstar names. As well as wrapping up Ligue 1 by the start of April, PSG recently beat Reims 3-0 to win the French Cup.
Victory over Inter would see Enrique win the Treble with a second club, having done so with Barcelona in 2015. In the time it has taken Enrique to turn PSG into European heavyweights again, Pochettino left Stamford Bridge after one season before Enzo Maresca was appointed.
The Italian has completed his first season in west London, finishing with a top four finish and the Europa Conference League crown.
Claude Makelele was speaking on behalf of bet365, the official global partner of the UEFA Champions League, which is hosting its Big Ticket Giveaway Game this Friday 30th May in Munich from 4pm, where fans have the chance to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League final. Full Terms and Conditions apply. Gamble Responsibly. Full interview can be found at bet365 News.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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