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Chelsea's pursuit of a permanent manager has become slightly clearer: Francesco Farioli can be removed from consideration.
The highly regarded Italian coach, who had been on Chelsea's radar prior to Liam Rosenior's appointment in January, moved within one match of securing the Portuguese league title with Porto last weekend, yet the opening question at his post-match press conference centered on speculation about a potential switch to Chelsea.
"Your name has been linked with Chelsea," Farioli was asked. "Can you assure FC Porto fans that you're staying?" His response was brief and definitive: "Yes, absolutely."
The path from Porto to Chelsea has yielded mixed fortunes for the Blues. José Mourinho remains arguably the club's finest ever manager after making the move from Iberia to England, yet André Villas-Boas spectacularly failed to match that achievement. Now serving as Porto's president, Villas-Boas clearly has no desire to allow the coach who has guided his club to the verge of their first title in four years to depart for anyone, let alone Chelsea.
Farioli's aligned position suggests Chelsea must now go back to square one in their managerial search.
Could Chelsea Give Calum McFarlane the Full-Time Job?
During difficult moments this season, Chelsea's leadership has twice called upon the low-profile figure of Calum McFarlane. The club's former U21 coach delivered a surprising 1–1 draw against Manchester City during his first interim stint in January and will have another opportunity to trouble Pep Guardiola after steering the Blues to the FA Cup final.
Should McFarlane collect maximum points from Chelsea's four remaining league matches (which could still bring Champions League qualification, however improbable) and secure the club's first FA Cup triumph since 2018, he would have built a persuasive argument for a permanent appointment — at least on the surface.
The managerial vacancy at Chelsea will ultimately be determined by more than coaching ability alone. Following Rosenior's abrupt departure, The Guardian reported that the squad considered the short-tenured coach "too inexperienced." While this was Rosenior's first Premier League role, he at least had 141 senior matches as manager of Strasbourg and Hull City behind him. The FA Cup final will represent only McFarlane's seventh senior managerial outing.
The same report suggests Chelsea's players are self-aware enough to acknowledge the "big egos" present throughout the dressing room and are therefore hoping for a "big character" to be appointed alongside a strong track record. While it hasn't been entirely ruled out, McFarlane's interim reign is widely expected to end come summer.
Interesting Summer for Managerial Upheaval
Last summer was defined by striker signings. Exorbitantly priced central midfielders dominated the headlines in 2023. This year could well belong to managers.
Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola have already signaled their availability, with the latter widely reported to feature on Chelsea's shortlist. Both coaches should give the BlueCo board pause for thought, however, given their distinctive styles thrive on low possession — a luxury no top club can afford in the modern game. The era of Mourinho deliberately surrendering the ball and the "fear" he believed it generated is long gone.
Cesc Fàbregas's Como ownership has effectively made their manager available. The former Chelsea midfielder may have played down the rumors, but his dynamic blend of fluid, high-pressing possession football would suit this contemporary era of the Premier League perfectly. He also boasts an impressive trophy collection that could satisfy the current squad's ambitions.
The World Cup could also produce a fresh wave of managerial candidates once nations begin exiting the tournament.
Unfortunately for Chelsea, several of the most prominent names in the U.S. have already been hired and discarded by BlueCo (Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino being the most notable examples), though a return for Carlo Ancelotti under the current ownership could be one — admittedly far-fetched — option worth exploring. As a serial winner across a trophy-filled playing and managerial career, the current Brazil head coach undoubtedly meets the "big character" criteria Chelsea's dressing room is demanding.