Luis Enrique: The Project Manager Chelsea are looking for?

Now that Chelsea are looking for a new manager, is Luis Enrique a viable option due to the fact he wants a long term project? The 52 year old who has managed Roma, Celta vigo, Barcelona and the Spanish national team, is one of the options Chelsea are weighing up to replace Graham Potter as the Chelsea manager.

Luis Enrique is known to deploy a 4-3-3 as his primary tactic. He likes to have one holding midfielder playing as a 6, and then two outside 8s in the midfield. Enrique's philosophy is to build from the back, but to play incisive passes between the lines in midfield and attack. He likes to change the tempo quickly once entering the 2nd phase in midfield to create more direct opportunities using quick interactions between his forwards and midfielders. Enrique likes his Centre forward to bring the wide players into play and have the two box to box midfielders (number 8s) joining the attack to overload on the break.

The way Enrique wants to play would be viable at Chelsea with the incredibly talented squad that has been assembled and we could really see Enrique get the best out of the likes of Mason Mount in the number 8 position. as well as wide attacking talent such as Mudryk and Madueke. We could also see Enzo Fernandez utilised as a box to box midfielder as Enrique would most likely acquire a new number 6 who is more accustom to that lone defensive midfield role to break up play. This would see Chelsea get the creative best out of Enzo Fernandez and could solve creativity issues that have been cropping up for the past few seasons on and off.

Luis Enrique's teams are also well drilled to press high up the pitch. The wingers will press on to the fullbacks and wide centre halfs, and one of the two box to box 8s (usually the more industrious of the two) will pick up the opposition holding midfielder who drops in to collect the ball. An example of this for Chelsea would be someone like Mount, Kovacic or even Gallagher pressing high and stopping the opposition deep playmaker getting on the ball. Enrique also then wants his 6 (holding midfielder) to push on and cut the passing lanes into midfield to force the opposition to either go backwards or go long to the forwards in the hope of isolating the forwards 2v1 with fullback and Centre back. Enrique has supposedly said in ongoing talks with Chelsea that the young, high intensity squad Chelsea have would suit his high pressing style perfectly.

Enrique has received high praise in his career with Messi saying he was a top two manager he had played under, the other manager being Pep Guardiola. Enrique is also highly rated in Spain and regarded as a top coach for both club and country. Enrique is highly thought of at Chelsea behind the scenes, and seemingly it is becoming a two horse race between Enrique and Nagelsmann as to who will be taking over at Chelsea.

So is Enrique the man for Chelsea going forwards? I personally believe both Enrique and Nagelsmann offer a lot of positives for Chelsea and both of these managers would be excellent appointments for the club going forwards.