Zinedine Zidane has been linked with replacing Graham Potter in the Chelsea hot seat - but such a possibility has been dismissed by former teammate Emmanuel Petit.
Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 and was linked to the Manchester United job last season. The legendary former midfielder has frequently spoken of his desire to return to management after two successful stints at the helm at Los Blancos.
Speaking earlier this year, Zidane explained in a typically coy interview over his future: "Am I still able to contribute things as a coach? Yes, many things, or I think at least some!
"I want to continue with that career because I still have the desire - it is my passion. I am 50 years old, fulfilled, I'm happy - that's the most important thing."
Blues boss Potter, who replaced Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge in September, is under major pressure. His side have scored just six goals over their last 16 matches and the side are languishing in 10th in the Premier League standings despite record levels of spending in the past two transfer windows.
Yet Petit, formerly of Chelsea and a central midfield partner of Zidane for France, dismissed the possibility of the former Real Madrid boss moving to Stamford Bridge. Speaking to RMC Sport, he explained: “I may be wrong, but I don’t believe for a second in the rumour of Zizou going to Chelsea.
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“Zidane’s future doesn’t lie in England, it lies elsewhere. Zidane has openly said that he preferred a more polished and technical game. He does not speak English, even if I believe that he takes lessons. But a dressing room today is populated by several nationalities.
“Knowing his way of managing a locker room, he likes proximity, being interested in people before the player. And so you have to be able to communicate and speak the language. In England, many coaches have been mocked in press conferences because they don't didn't speak the language, like in France too. After a while, that creates a gap in understanding.”
Petit added: “Why refuse Chelsea? Because if you look at the problem today, it's that Potter has to manage more than 30 players at training in what is like a summer camp.
“Chelsea had the means, but today Financial Fair Play is considering changing its rules because of them, so we can believe that the club will not be able to continue at this rate of transfers. [Qualifying for] The Champions League will be necessary for them otherwise they will no longer be inside Financial Fair Play. So they will be condemned since they are 10th in the Premier League and they will not win the Champions League this year.”
Petit then concluded his assessment with a condemnation of Blues owner Todd Boehly. He said: "It's Boehly's choice, but he doesn't understand anything about football. If he only wants bling-bling as he has done for six months, there are other coaches who know the Premier League much better."
