Carragher backs Fabregas for Chelsea and rules out Conte
Quick summary
Jamie Carragher said Antonio Conte is unlikely to return to Chelsea and praised Como coach Cesc Fabregas as one of football's most exciting emerging managers. The comments come as Chelsea search for a permanent replacement for interim boss Callum McFarlane.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceJamie Carragher has ruled out Antonio Conte as a candidate to become the next Chelsea manager while identifying Como head coach Cesc Fabregas as one of the most exciting emerging coaches in football, as the Blues search for a permanent successor to interim manager Callum McFarlane.
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According to comments made on Sky Sports, via the Standard , Carragher was unequivocal about several names on the shortlist.
“You can probably rule out the bottom three, Mourinho, Lampard and Conte,” he said. “They’ve all managed Chelsea before, so I don’t see that. Fabregas does look like right now one of the new hot things in football, doing really well. Filipe Luis is doing really well, obviously had a spell at Chelsea as a player.”
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 28: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, reacts from the technical area during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between SSC Napoli and Chelsea FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 28, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images) Carragher says Chelsea is ‘broken’ as Como boss Fabregas emerges amongst leading candidates Carragher reserved particular praise for Andoni Iraola before returning to the broader problem facing any incoming manager, a club he believes has been fundamentally damaged by its ownership.
“It’s shocking, and it comes from the top,” he said. “There are five or six really top players on that pitch and they’ve just been beaten by Nottingham Forest’s B team. Less than 12 months ago they were taking PSG to the cleaners. This football club is broken.”
On the challenge of attracting players, he added: “If I were a young player, why would I sign for Chelsea? They’d give me 12 months and if I wasn’t amazing, they’d buy another player in my place. How do you build a connection between players, fans and staff? It’s not there.”
The context makes Fabregas’s candidacy all the more intriguing. The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder has impressed enormously in his first adventure as a top-flight manager, guiding Como to the brink of European qualification.
His connection to Chelsea, where he spent two seasons as a player, adds another layer to what would be a compelling appointment, and Carragher’s endorsement will only strengthen his standing as a frontrunner.
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What happened
Carragher, speaking via Sky Sports comments reported by the Standard and Football Italia, dismissed former Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard and Antonio Conte as realistic candidates for the job. He highlighted Cesc Fabregas and also mentioned Filipe Luis positively, with Andoni Iraola receiving separate praise. Carragher also described Chelsea as a 'broken' club, criticizing ownership and the instability affecting player development and recruitment. The report adds to media speculation that Fabregas is becoming a serious name in Chelsea's managerial search.
Chance analysis
This matters mainly as a managerial narrative signal around Chelsea rather than a direct squad update. If Fabregas is genuinely under consideration, it points toward a stylistic reset and a longer-term project profile rather than a short-term veteran appointment such as Conte. For football prediction models, the immediate takeaway is more about continued uncertainty at Chelsea than any confirmed tactical change.
The likely short-term effect is continued uncertainty around Chelsea's direction, with only a tentative reputational boost for Fabregas.
Treat this as medium-confidence managerial speculation that reinforces Chelsea instability but does not yet justify strong match-level adjustment.