CHELSEA could have a bold new look if they make Kieran McKenna their next manager while signing stars like Victor Osimhen.
Gaffer McKenna, 38, worked wonders for Ipswich Town, securing back-to-back promotions after finishing second in the Championship.
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And he is one of the favorites to take over at Chelsea following Mauricio Pochettino’s shock departure yesterday.
If McKenna were to move to Stamford Bridge, he would likely use his favored 4-2-3-1 system, which has worked wonders in England’s second and third tier.
The possession system relies on short, accurate passes and fluidity in the final third, as well as a solid double pivot in midfield.
McKenna’s left-back often pushes high to create a four-man attack behind the striker, with the right-back dropping in to create a three-man defense.
The two midfielders remain deep, while the left-back moves inside to become the second striker.
This is different to Pochettino’s version of the same system, which saw the left-back move into midfield.
This pushed one of the 6 up as a ‘false’ 10, whilst the left attacker remained open.
And with a few additions, McKenna’s incredible take on the classic form could do wonders for this Chelsea squad.
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Djordje Petrovic’s impressive debut season eliminates the need for a new goalkeeper, so he would retain the number 1 shirt.
At right-back, an in-form Reece James outperforms Malo Gusto, especially as he may be required to defend more than usual.
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Levi Colwill’s undoubted potential should make him a starter next season.
But with Trevoh Chalobah set to be sold and Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile still underwhelming, a new centre-back will be needed.
Wesley Fofana’s propensity for long-term injuries also makes this a real necessity.
And Chelsea could opt for Sporting Lisbon star Ousmane Diomande, already a Portuguese league winner and AFCON champion with Ivory Coast at the age of 20.
A new left-back is also needed, with Ben Chilwell facing another injury-plagued season and Marc Cucurella also reportedly for sale.
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Step forward Alphonso Davies, who has been on Chelsea’s radar all season.
The Canadian’s contract with Bayern Munich expires in 2025, with Davies so far resisting the urge to sign an extension.
He had been hoping for a summer move to Real Madrid, but reports claim the Spanish side have ended their interest.
And that opens the door for Chelsea to attack, with Davies’ incredible speed and eye for goal making him an ideal candidate to attack from the left and join the attack.
In midfield, with Conor Gallagher likely to leave due to his contract situation, it should be a simple choice for McKenna.
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Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo haven’t gotten along yet, but they have already shown their individual qualities on other occasions.
The midfield pivot is a key part of McKenna’s system, and he will make it a priority to coach the pair so they finally look like a £200m duo.
Further ahead, Cole Palmer will go straight into the team at number 10 after his incredible debut season, which ended with the Prem Young Player of the Year award.
Christopher Nkunku could then be deployed on the left, allowing him to constantly come in as a secondary striker, with Davies providing the width.
And on the right, McKenna could turn to Omari Hutchinson, who was on loan at Ipswich this season and played an important role in their promotion campaign.
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The former Arsenal ace has already expressed his desire to remain at Tractor Boys for another term.
But if McKenna headed straight for west London, Hutchinson would certainly be desperate to stay where he was and fight Noni Madueke to stay on the right.
Finally, it’s no secret that Chelsea need a new striker, despite Nicolas Jackson’s good first campaign.
Rival fans have for years feared the prospect of a 30-plus goal hero finishing off the constant chances created by Chelsea’s playmakers, which have been consistently squandered by a series of failed strikers.
And the time has finally come for ownership to give their all to Napoli star Osimhen, who is one of the most clinical finishers in European football.
He has scored 76 goals in 132 games for his club, including 31 in the 2022/23 campaign.
And McKenna would probably be salivating at the prospect of the £100million man roaming freely in the opposition box.
Who could be Chelsea’s next manager?
HERE are the seven names in contention to replace Mauricio Pochettino following his shock exit from Chelsea.
Roberto DeZerbi
The Italian left Brighton at the end of the season after a year and a half in charge. He was linked with a number of key roles at the start of the campaign, but a string of difficult results saw him fall out of contention for the likes of Liverpool. De Zerbi’s attacking style would be popular at Stamford Bridge.
Kieran McKenna
The former Manchester United assistant led Ipswich to consecutive promotions from League One to the Premier League. This has caused his stock to skyrocket and he may be tempted to jump ship for a big job.
Enzo Maresca
Maresca was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City and worked wonders at Leicester, righting the ship to send the Foxes back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Appointing a Pep disciple has turned Arsenal into title contenders, so it could work for Chelsea too.
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Flick was one of the most sought-after coaches in football after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich. But everything went wrong in his next role, becoming the first coach to be fired by Germany. Now he’s ready to return and could be a smart move for the Blues
Sebastian Honesse
Chelsea fans may not have heard of him, but Hoeness is Germany’s next big thing. Hoeness transformed Stuttgart from relegation candidates into the second best team in the Bundesliga, finishing above Bayern Munich. Only the invincible Bayer Leverkusen got in the way of a miracle.
Michel
Michel Sanchez did wonders with little Girona in Spain. The minnows were right in the race for the LaLiga title at Christmas, before seeing Real Madrid rocket away. But they overtook illustrious Catalan neighbors Barcelona into second place and secured a place in the Champions League. Reports in Spain say this has caught the attention of Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho
Still adored by Stamford Bridge fans who never liked former Spurs manager Pochettino, Mourinho would be a popular choice. Winner of three Premier Leagues with the Blues in two topsy-turvy spells, will he be the man to take Chelsea back to the top?
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