'Absolutely': Chelsea manager target issues clear statement to fans | OneFootball

Blues are searching for next head coach after Liam Rosenior was sacked after only three months in charge

Porto boss Francesco Farioli has ruled himself out of the running to succeed Liam Rosenior as Chelsea’s next head coach.

Porto currently lead rivals Benfica by seven points at the Primeira Liga summit with three games left to play this season and are close to being crowned as Portuguese champions for the first time since 2022.

Farioli has managed an impressive 74 per cent win rate since taking charge last July and his stock has risen considerably during his time at the Estadio do Dragao.

When Enzo Maresca left Chelsea in January, Farioli’s name was initially mentioned among the potential contenders for the job until Rosenior was eventually hired from sister club Strasbourg.

But Farioli is enjoying life in Portugal and has no plans to leave his post at Porto.

“I am the coach of Porto and I am really happy to be here,” he said after Sunday’s 2-1 win away to Estrela da Amadora.

Staying put: Francesco Farioli has no intention of leaving Porto for Chelsea

PA

Farioli was then asked whether he could guarantee to Porto fans that he would stay put even if Chelsea sent him an attractive offer.

The former Nice and Ajax head coach was insistent, replying: “Yeah, absolutely.”

Following Rosenior’s exit, Calum McFarlane has again been appointed as Chelsea’s interim head coach until the end of the season and got off to a winning start on Sunday as Enzo Fernandez’s first-half goal earned a 1-0 win over Leeds in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.