Petit urges Fabregas to avoid Chelsea 'mess' amid manager links
Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has advised Cesc Fabregas to steer clear of the vacant managerial position at Stamford Bridge, suggesting a return to Barcelona would be a far more sensible career move. Fabregas, currently in charge of Italian club Como, is among the names reportedly under consideration by Chelsea's hierarchy following their dismissal of head coach Liam Rosenior earlier this week.
According to sources, the 38-year-old Spaniard is on a shortlist of candidates for the Chelsea job as the club begins its latest search for a permanent manager. Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane has taken temporary charge following Rosenior's departure after a run of five consecutive league defeats without scoring a goal, a club record stretching back over a century. The bookmakers' current favourite for the role is reportedly outgoing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.
Fabregas has earned significant praise for his work at Como, having guided the club to promotion from Serie B two years ago. In their first season back in the Italian top flight, Como finished a respectable ninth, and they currently sit eighth with five games remaining in the current campaign. This success has reportedly brought him to the attention of several European clubs, including Chelsea and his former side Barcelona.
In an interview with Andy's Bet Club, Petit was unequivocal in his assessment. "Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea? No, no, no. If you have to choose between Chelsea and Barcelona, definitely you go to Barcelona, not Chelsea. Chelsea is a mess," Petit stated. He described the Chelsea environment as a "nightmare" for managers and suggested Fabregas would find greater serenity and a clearer path to competing for major honours, including La Liga titles and in the Champions League, at the Camp Nou.
Petit also placed Fabregas within a cohort of highly-rated Spanish managers currently on the market, naming Pep Guardiola, Unai Emery, Xabi Alonso, and Luis Enrique. The former France international's comments highlight the perceived instability at Chelsea, where Rosenior's tenure lasted just three-and-a-half months before an apparent rift with players and dissatisfaction over tactics and results led to his dismissal.
The situation leaves Fabregas with a significant career decision, should the interest from Chelsea materialize into a formal approach. Moving to Stamford Bridge would represent a high-risk, high-reward return to the Premier League, where he enjoyed a successful playing career with Arsenal and Chelsea. Opting for Barcelona, where he also played for three seasons, would see him follow in the footsteps of other former players like Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez who have returned to manage the club. For Chelsea, the pursuit of a young, progressive manager like Fabregas signals a desire to move on from a turbulent period, though Petit's stark warning underscores the scale of the challenge awaiting whoever takes the job.
