Former Spain coach Luis Enrique was reportedly disappointed after Frank Lampard emerged as Chelsea interim manager.
Enrique graced the list of top and high-profile managers earmarked by Todd Boehly for the Chelsea job after Graham Potter was sacked.
Chelsea parted ways with Graham Potter following a dismal Premier League campaign that left the Blues battling in the bottom half of the lead after a whooping £600m transfer raid.
The former Brighton boss was dismissed in April just months into the job after Chelsea hierachy could not put up with a persisting disastrous Premier League run.
Graham Potter’s sack came when top-rated managers such as Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Steven Gerrard, Julian Nagelsmann, Zinedine Zidane, Frank Lampard, and Luis Enrique were available for the role.
Other managerial shortlists for the Chelsea job included former boss and Roma manager Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, Chelsea hierachy had left the club in the hands of assistant manager Bruno Saltor while perusing the long-tailed shortlist of potential new managers.
Todd Boehly was reportedly keen on Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique among the possible names that could replace Potter.
The club met with the two frontline favorites to discuss terms of contract and was reportedly closing in on brokering deal before the succession plan took a sharp new twist.
The club confirmed they are not hurrying to appoint a new manager until the end of the season. Chelsea legend Frank Lampard was hired on interim basis to take charge of the team till the end of the season to allow the club explore other available options.
According to AS, Chelsea’s appointment of Frank Lampard as interim manager came as a shock to Luis Enrique who was reportedly ready for the challenge at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea reportedly had video calls with Luis Enrique and had a face-to face interview with the former Barcelona manager in London before they suddenly ditched the plan to hire him.
Luis Enrique, who have been out of job after Spain crashed out in 2022 World Cup round 16 to Morocco, was reportedly motivated for the challenge, especially in the Champions League quarterfinal clash against Real Madrid.
He was ready to start immediately before Chelsea annoucned Frank Lampard as interim manager to his shock.
Three matches into his interim reign, Frank Lampard has suffered debilitating blows to the last figments of his ego as Chelsea manager after he was previously sacked in 2021 following a poor run of results.
Frank Lampard’s return was hailed by expectant Chelsea fans as the onset of a new dawn but a nightmare start may likely turn him into a villain with a hand in the Chelsea debacle.
However, whether Luis Enrique would have upturned the misfortunes at Stamford Bridge remains unknown with his lack of experience in English football.
Do you think Luis Enrique would have done better than Lampard?
