Former Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli has revealed that Roman Abramovich told him he was “the first option” to become Chelsea‘s new boss in the summer, prior to the likely appointment of Antonio Conte.
Chelsea have been on the lookout for a new manager since sacking Jose Mourinho back in December, with Guus Hiddink returning to the club on an interim basis for the rest of the season. With the Dutchman unlikely to continue beyond this term at Stamford Bridge, the west Londoners have been eyeing a new long-term option for the role.
There were several high-profile names linked to the position, including the likes of Massimiliano Allegri and Sampaoli, but Conte has emerged as the favourite in recent weeks, with the current Italy boss expected to take over following the conclusion of Euro 2016 this summer.
However, Sampaoli has revealed that he came very close to getting the job himself, claiming that Abramovich told him he was their first-choice before the emergence of Conte in the race.
“I had a meeting with Chelsea’s owner and he told me that I was the first option,” the former Chile boss told Argentine radio station Radio Vorterix. “I was about to be their new coach. But then Conte appeared and it became a competition between us.
“It was him or me. I needed some time in order to improve my English but this kind of club doesn’t give you that time.
“The Premier League is definitely the best league in the world and I wanted to coach there. But as I said, it didn’t happen, sadly.”
As for the Blues, they’ve enjoyed a resurgence under Hiddink after a disastrous start to the season with Mourinho at the helm. The west Londoners have scored 43 goals and conceded 39 in their 29 Premier League games this term, with a shot accuracy of 44% and an average pass accuracy of 83%.
Hiddink’s men sit 10th on 40 points, nine adrift of West Ham United in fifth and 11 behind Manchester City in fourth, while they also crashed out of the Champions League and the FA Cup this week.
Next up for Chelsea following their FA Cup quarter-final loss to Everton is a home game against West Ham next weekend, with the Hammers in great form pushing for a top four finish.
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