Richard Keys has been left dumbfounded by Chelsea's managerial process as the club continue to search for the next permanent head coach at Stamford Bridge. After the 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion it is now three defeats from three games for interim boss Frank Lampard but pundit Keys is far from set on the current alternatives.
Lampard took his current role on a temporary basis until the end of the season, allowing the Blues' new footballing directors to conduct a thorough and exhaustive process of narrowing down the options. Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique lead the way in that regard but Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti and Ruben Amorim have also been linked with the role.
With so little to play for in the final six weeks of the season the attention is once more turning to who will be in the dugout for next season at SW6. Lampard still has the task of trying to overcome Real Madrid and a daunting two-goal deficit on Tuesday in the Champions League but outside of that its full steam ahead for operation new manager.
READ MORE: Chelsea have four-day Erik Ten Hag deadline for new manager decision after Jose Mourinho example
At 35 it is Nagelsmann that poses most intrigue, especially after being sacked by Bayern Munich less than one month ago. As one of the world's most highly-rated coaches it is only natural to see him in the mix for the vacancy at Chelsea but Keys can't understand what makes him so special.
"Explain this to me. One of the candidates is Julian Nagelsmann. What has he got that the legend that is Frank Lampard, the Chelsea legend, has not?" he asked fellow BeIN presenter Andy Gray on Saturday. The conversation came before Lampard fell to a third straight defeat with the meakest of performances yet.
"A guy that knows the club inside out, that Chelsea fans think the world of. What has Nagelsmann done?" he continued. "Okay, he won Bundesliga but he'd be hard pushed not to. Nothing else. What makes him preferable? Is it because he's German? Young? Rides a skateboard?"
It has been reported that Nagelsmann's style and mannerisms did not go down well at Bayern and he didn't act or speak like someone in his position should. The same, in a slightly different and less excentric sense, can be said of Graham Potter's time at Chelsea.
He was criticised for lacking charisma and macho energy on the touchline. As a figure with plenty of standing within the game and previous management in the league, Gray thinks Lampard is the superior option. "Frank is 44, he's got plenty of experience, he's coached that club before," he asked nobody in particular.
"What makes Nagelsmann better? I don't know. Modern day owners of English Premier League clubs have a fixation with a foreign name, a foreign coach, that they're better, that they'll bring a brand of football that we can't produce with British coaches. It's a nonesense.
"Can we not have a reason that Nagelsmann is rated better than Frank? Yes he's won a Bundesliga title but you're right, you're hard pushed not to at Bayern Munich."
Keys had already voiced his thoughts on the matter two days earlier, writing on Twitter: "I fail to see what Julian Nagelsmann knows that Frank Lampard doesn’t. If it’s a straight choice between the two I’d go with the legend that knows Chelsea inside out - not someone who might have a more impressive power-point display but knows nothing about the club or our league."
Chelsea, who have key directors Laurence Stewart and Christopher Vivell passing on promising messages regarding Nagelsmann after working with the manager at RB Leipzig, clearly don't have an issue with his youth or trophy collection. Keys and Gray, as usual, do.
READ NEXT:
Christian Pulisic Chelsea transfer latest as shock swap tipped for Arsenal target
Real Madrid star Karim Benzema fires message to Chelsea after Champions League win
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry pinpoints Joao Felix problem in Real Madrid vs Chelsea
Chelsea break 30-year record at Real Madrid as Jamie Carragher makes prediction
Why Christian Pulisic did not play in Chelsea's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid
