Salomon Kalou wants Enzo Maresca to be given time at Chelsea, but has named his three replacement options if the club parts ways with the Italian.
Enzo Maresca’s future at Chelsea is reportedly in doubt following his recent comments about the club hierarchy. The media speculations have begun, but former Blues forward Salomon Kalou believes that the Italian should stay.
Talking exclusively to The Sportzine (Thanks to Duelbits), the Ivory Coast striker admitted that the former Leicester City manager could be sacked if the results in the league do not improve, and said:
“It’s important to say Maresca has done a lot of good work at Chelsea, and the club will want stability. But if results don’t improve, naturally speculation will grow.”
When asked to name his possible replacements for Maresca, Kalou backed his former teammate, Frank Lampard, to have another chance at Stamford Bridge.
The Englishman has had two stints as a manager at the club – once permanent and once as an interim – and is now doing well at Coventry City. He said:
“My former team-mate Frank Lampard is one name that stands out for me. He’s doing amazingly at Coventry right now, showing he’s learned from his previous experiences. He knows Chelsea inside out, he’s a club legend, and with more maturity and tactical growth, he could do well if given another chance.”
Kalou went on to name AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola as the next best replacement and added:
“Andoni Iraola is another coach who has impressed in the Premier League with his intensity and pressing style. He’s shown he can adapt quickly and get the best out of his players.”
Kalou’s wildcard pick was Sunderland manager, Régis Le Bris. Explaining his pick, the former UEFA Champions League winner said:
“Then there’s Régis Le Bris. He built his reputation at Lorient by developing young talent and playing progressive football, and now at Sunderland, he’s showing he can translate those ideas into a different environment. That combination of nurturing players and tactical innovation makes him an intriguing option for a club like Chelsea.”
“So while Maresca still has time to turn things around, if Chelsea were to make a change, Lampard, Iraola, and Le Bris would all be strong candidates.”
The Sportzine understands that Chelsea have no plans to sack Enzo Maresca as things stand. The comments will be discussed internally next week after the Aston Villa match at Stamford Bridge.
