• Premier League

Ranieri feels Chelsea want Guardiola

ESPN staff
May 8, 2012

Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri feels Pep Guardiola is the man Roman Abramovich wants to take the reins at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are preparing for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, but plenty of column inches have been given up to the manager's job. Roberto Di Matteo has been in charge since Andre Villas-Boas was axed, with many of the players backing the Italian to secure the job on a permanent basis - having revived their fortunes and secured FA Cup final glory.

The Chelsea hierarchy have given no indication as to what their plans are with regard to the manager's job, but it is believed Guardiola is on their radar following his decision to leave Barcelona.

A report in the Daily Mirror on Tuesday claimed Guardiola had turned down an approach from the Blues. There has been no word from any camp on the subject, but Ranieri - who was in charge at Chelsea from 2000 to 2004 - feels the Spaniard is the man Blues owner Abramovich wants to take the club forward.

Ranieri told ESPN that he would like to see Di Matteo given the job, but feels Abramovich may be leaning towards Guardiola.

"I think it would be a very good decision," Ranieri told ESPN about the prospect of Di Matteo landing the job permanently. "But I don't know if Roman will maintain him.

"Maybe Roman wants a name, a big coach. He could maybe maintain him [Di Matteo] and then wait for Guardiola."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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