“Absolute shambles” – Insider responds as multiple managers have “already rejected Chelsea today”

Chelsea have parted ways with Enzo Maresca and it seems like they’re already struggling with their approaches over hiring a new manager.

See below as our colleague Simon Phillips responds to a claim that multiple managers have already rejected Chelsea today, just hours after the news of Maresca’s departure was made official.

Phillips seems to be hearing the same thing as he describes the situation at Stamford Bridge as an “absolute shambles”…

Of course they have. They’d have been just like us this last week or so watching this absolute shambles unravel in the media and thinking they want nothing to do with it. I truly fear who we will end up with at this point.

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) January 1, 2026

Chelsea’s current ownership haven’t really inspired much confidence since taking over from previous owner Roman Abramovich, with Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali taking the Blues in a very different direction.

It could be that it’s now proving hard for CFC to attract a high-calibre manager to help take this project forward.

There has inevitably been a lot of speculation already about who could be in as the next Chelsea manager.

It seems, according to Fabrizio Romano, that one leading candidate is Liam Rosenior, who has done a fine job at Strasbourg, who are another BlueCo club…

?? Chelsea will appoint new manager very soon, not gonna take weeks or long time. The club is now working on it.

Liam Rosenior, highly rated internally after excellent job at Strasbourg as he’s among contenders.

Decision to be made in days, won’t take long. ? pic.twitter.com/WefPgy7z7J

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 1, 2026

Meanwhile, highly-regarded Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has also been linked with the west London giants in a report from the Daily Mail.

It’s not clear which managers have turned Chelsea down, and one imagines the likes of Rosenior and Iraola would surely still see the job as a step up for them, even if it’s not the easiest time to be taking over.

Chelsea are a huge club with a really strong recent history, even if they’ve gone through a difficult period since Abramovich had to relinquish ownership of the club.

There is a squad of very talented young players at Chelsea, and the team remain in the Champions League and have made it to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

There are surely plenty of managers who would be tempted by that, even if it seems some recent coaches such as Maresca have found it difficult working under this ownership.

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well its not clear who have turned them down as it hasnt happend. Look at the timeline ,its New years day which means hardly anyone will be working. However the decision to get rid was no doubt made a couple of weeks ago so sispect a plan was already in place