The search for the next Chelsea manager has once again exposed the instability surrounding the club, with criticism mounting and uncertainty growing over who will take over the role.

Former Manchester United player Paul Merson has questioned whether any top manager would want to intervene in what he described as “chaos”.

His comments reflect wider concerns about the direction of Chelsea, which is now preparing to appoint another manager after a tumultuous period in its managerial search process.

The club is in instability

Chelsea’s recent history has been defined by constant change. Since Enzo Maresca’s departure in January 2026, the club have had another brief appointment in Liam Rosenior before turning to a temporary solution with Calum McFarlane taking charge for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

That instability has manifested itself on the court. There have been reports of poor results, including six straight league defeats, which have left the club struggling in Europe.

Merson’s criticism focused on deeper issues rather than results. He questions the structure of the club, the performance of its players and whether any manager – no matter how good – can succeed in the current climate.

The former Manchester United player said in an interview: “The appointment of the next head coach is crucial, but whoever takes over it will be a hard job.” sky sports.

“They are one of the youngest teams in the league and the players are playing catch-up every week. They have just lost six league games and have 20 players on six, seven, eight-year contracts.

“They probably won’t get past Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth this season, and they might not even get past Everton and Fulham, the way things are going.”

The next Chelsea manager choice has been made

Caught in the midst of this uncertainty is Xavi Hernandez, one of several high-profile names linked with the job of being the next Chelsea manager.

The former Barcelona boss has confirmed he has been in contact and is open to a job in the Premier League, adding another layer to Chelsea’s ongoing manager search.

Xavi’s profile fits the kind of player Chelsea might be looking for. He has experience of managing top clubs, winning La Liga during his time in Spain and is known for a clear football philosophy based on possession and structure.

However, doubts remain over whether he will take the job. Chelsea’s current model reportedly puts significant power in the hands of the sporting director rather than the head coach, something that has put off candidates in the past.

There is also uncertainty over whether Xavi remains first choice. Some reports suggest that the club’s priorities remain Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso as part of a wider search.

“Xavi Hernandez’s side insist Chelsea have taken a formative approach and are open to a move to England,” transfer insider Ben Jacobs reports to X

“However, my understanding is that Chelsea are not expected to go ahead. Xavi Alonso, Marco Silva and Andoni Illara are all under serious consideration, with Xavi currently ruled out by Chelsea.”

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decisive decision for the future

Whoever takes over as the next Chelsea manager will face a difficult situation. Chelsea’s squad is young but inconsistent, the structure of the club remains under scrutiny and expectations remain sky-high.

Merson’s warning underscores the scale of the challenge. For him, the problem is not just finding the right manager through Chelsea, but fixing a system that fails to provide stability or direction.

“I just don’t know how Chelsea got into this mess and I honestly can’t see a way out,” stressed Merson.

“Even if they sack players, how does that level the playing field financially? Alejandro Garnacho hasn’t uprooted any trees. They’re not going to get the money back from him. Enzo Fernandez seems to be looking to move to Real Madrid. So, he seems to want to leave, but I don’t know how they’re going to get £100m for him unless he wins the World Cup again.

“Where does the money come from? What does it do for Chelsea?

“You can’t sit here and honestly say they’re going to sell a bunch of players and start over.

“If they want to sack some players, they may need to pay them to leave. That costs money.

“If they want new players to come in, it’s going to cost money. They’re in a bind.”

The appointment of the next Chelsea manager could determine the London side’s immediate future. If done right, the club can rebuild quickly. If something goes wrong, the unstable cycle can continue.

For now, the big question remains the simplest one: Who will want the job — and who can actually make it work?

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Credit: imagery / Craig Mercer

Recording date: May 4, 2026