ไทย
English
中國人
Chelsea are once again on the hunt for a new manager ahead of the summer, as the sixth permanent boss of the BlueCo ownership era is set to take charge at Stamford Bridge for the 2026–27 campaign.
Several potential candidates have surfaced since Chelsea parted ways with Liam Rosenior following his 106-day stint in charge. Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva are among the most frequently mentioned names for the Chelsea position, largely due to their established Premier League credentials.
But a number of other candidates less familiar to England's top division are also being considered. According to The Independent, Chelsea are weighing up a move for former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández to fill the vacant role. The Spaniard has been without a club since departing the Catalans at the close of the 2023–24 season, and reports have widely suggested he is eager to return to management.
Despite a somewhat undignified departure from Barça, Xavi guided a squad in disarray and packed with young talent to a league championship in 2022–23, an achievement that holds particular appeal for a club like Chelsea.
Here's how Chelsea could line up under Xavi if the Spanish icon is handed the reins at Stamford Bridge.
Xavi Hernandez's Preferred Formation
As one might expect, the foundation of Xavi's managerial philosophy is deeply rooted in the Barcelona school of football. Between his playing and coaching careers, Xavi spent two decades with Barça's first team, and he remains one of the defining figures of the Blaugrana's signature style.
Like most managers shaped by the Barça philosophy, Xavi almost exclusively deploys a 4-3-3 formation in which attacking, possession-based football is the central principle. However, there are nuances to Xavi's approach that distinguish him from some of his greatest influences, most notably Pep Guardiola.
A direct approach focused on rapidly creating and exploiting space was a defining feature of Xavi's Barcelona — a trait more reminiscent of Hansi Flick's methods than Guardiola's. At the peak of his tenure, Barcelona operated in a 3-2-5 shape in possession, with one winger tucking inside to form a box midfield while a fullback pushed forward to provide width.
Defensively, Xavi prefers his side to remain compact and force opponents out wide. While he is not primarily a defensive-minded coach, he did place considerably more emphasis on a solid backline than other Barça managers, including his successor. In 2022–23, with a back four largely consisting of Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen and Alejandro Balde, Barcelona conceded just 20 goals in La Liga — the second fewest in Spain's top flight during the 21st century.
While some differences exist — mainly in the specific demands placed on players in certain positions — Xavi's style is not entirely unlike what Enzo Maresca attempted to implement at Chelsea. There is therefore a degree of familiarity that many Chelsea players could draw upon should Xavi take charge.
How Xavi Hernández Could Set Up at Chelsea
GK: Gregor Kobel—Despite repeated investment in the goalkeeper position throughout the BlueCo era, Chelsea are still searching for a genuinely world-class presence in goal. Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel, who has previously been linked with the club, would fit that bill. Unlike Chelsea's current options, the Swiss international is also an accomplished ball-player from the back — a crucial quality for Xavi's build-up approach. It may command a hefty fee, but Kobel would represent a sound investment.
RB: Reece James—Injuries have hampered James's career significantly, but when fully fit, he is undeniably among the finest right backs on the planet. He may no longer have the stamina to consistently bomb forward, but he remains an outstanding playmaker from deeper positions. Chelsea's captain is a dream asset for any incoming manager.
CB: Trevoh Chalobah—Despite the enormous sums Chelsea have spent on outfield players during the BlueCo era, Enzo Fernández is the only outfield player to have logged more minutes this season than academy product Chalobah. The Englishman may have a modest ceiling, but he is a proven Premier League performer.
CB: Levi Colwill—Chelsea have felt Colwill's absence keenly after he missed the entire season following an ACL tear last summer. He remains central to Chelsea's long-term plans, and the left-footed centre back can continue to grow as a dependable defender, with his technical quality on the ball already at an impressive level.
LB: Alejandro Balde—Xavi oversaw Balde's emergence at Barcelona, where the fullback succeeded club legend Jordi Alba and made his World Cup bow in 2022. Current Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella has made little secret of his desire to return to Barcelona, and with Balde potentially available, a swap deal could suit all parties. Cucurella has frequently operated as an inverted fullback in recent seasons, whereas Balde is the archetypal overlapping fullback — a profile far better suited to Xavi's system.
DM: Moisés Caicedo—The Ecuadorian will be the anchor of Chelsea's midfield regardless of who takes the managerial role. At his peak, he is arguably the finest defensive midfielder in the world and an invaluable component in any tactical setup.
CM: Cole Palmer—It may seem unconventional to picture Cole Palmer as a central midfielder, but in possession he would occupy his customary space as an attacking midfielder who constantly seeks to exploit the right half-space. Xavi deployed Pedri primarily as a No. 10 in this very role during his time at Barça, with Sergio Busquets and either Frenkie de Jong or Sergi Roberto sitting deeper. Palmer, who enjoys dropping deep to receive the ball, could flourish in this system.
CM: Enzo Fernández—Fernández's future at Chelsea remains uncertain, but should the Argentine remain, working under one of the greatest midfielders the game has ever produced could prove transformative for his career. Fernández would likely operate closer to the base of midfield under Xavi, as he did for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup and during the early months of his Chelsea tenure. Despite evolving into a box-to-box presence over the past two seasons, Xavi could unlock Fernández as a deep-lying playmaker — a role many have long envisioned for him.
RW: Pedro Neto—Neto's pace and capacity to exploit space are attributes Xavi will greatly value. It may test the patience of Chelsea supporters, but the Portuguese winger can thrive in this context. That said, Estêvão could easily stake a claim for this position.
ST: João Pedro—A striker equally adept at creating opportunities for teammates as he is at finding the net himself. The Brazilian will lead the attack next season looking to build on an impressive debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.
LW: Fermín López—Chelsea showed strong interest in Fermín López last summer, and should Xavi arrive, they may look to revive that pursuit and reunite the attacking midfielder with the manager who handed him his Barcelona debut. Fermín is not a natural left winger, but under Xavi he would drift infield to form a box midfield alongside Palmer and ahead of the Caicedo-Fernández pairing, with Balde providing the width. It will take considerably more than the $46.7 million (€40 million, £34.6 million) they tabled last summer, but Fermín possesses elite potential and could flourish further under Xavi. Chelsea would be foolish not to at least open dialogue. Should they fall short, this could be the role where Estêvão earns regular minutes.
