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Chelsea owner Todd Boehly spoke directly to 'young Mourinho' as Graham Potter alternative
GRAHAM POTTER is not the only manager Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has considered.
Chelsea fans react to Thomas Tuchel sacking
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly reportedly spoke directly to Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim before settling on Graham Potter as his preferred choice to replace Thomas Tuchel. Potter is expected to be announced as the new Chelsea head coach but Boehly has looked at alternatives.
Tuchel was sacked by the Blues on Wednesday morning. Brighton boss Potter immediately became the favourite to take over at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane, who are both currently out of work, have also been considered. But Brighton granted permission for Chelsea to speak to Potter and he travelled to London for talks.
However, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett says Amorim is another candidate that Boehly has looked at. Amorim, 37, began his managerial career at Braga in 2019 and became Sporting boss in March 2020.
Dorsett says Chelsea fans would consider Amorim as a "young Jose Mourinho" due to the similarities with his fellow Portuguese manager. Mourinho was 41 when he first became Chelsea boss in 2004, so slightly older than Amorim.
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Boehly spoke directly with Amorim and is impressed by his short managerial career so far. Potter is still expected to be confirmed as the new Chelsea boss.
Amorim is looked at as a potential appointment for the future in west London. However, Dorsett admitted "it's a reminder that things are not done with Graham Potter."
Potter's impending appointment has seen plenty of praise among pundits. And former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy is excited at what is in store for his old side.
Cundy said on talkSPORT: "I've seen what he's done, I've seen with [Leandro] Trossard and [Pascal] Gross - I'm amazed those two players are still there. I thought Manchester United would go in for at least one of those.
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"He gets good players and turns them into brilliant footballers. Look at what he's done for [Marc] Cucurella. Cucurella hasn't been the same player since he came to Chelsea!
"What he has done for some of these players, and the style of football and the way they play. You look at some of these players now.
"You think [Alexis] Mac Allister, the way that he's turned into this brilliant [player]. He gets the best out of the squad that he's got and I'll tell you what, he's got a hell of a squad at Chelsea. Make no mistake.
"I can't wait to see when he gets his hand on this squad, what we look like. If we're anything like Brighton, then we are in for a treat."
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