Chelsea are in talks with Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim as they search for a new permanent manager

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By Adrian Kagumba for The Daily Mail 23:11 14 Apr 2023 Updated at 01:38 15 Apr 2023

Ruben Amorim has led Sporting Lisbon to the La Liga title in 2021, and Chelsea have spoken to the manager as they look to appoint a permanent manager.

Chelsea have spoken to highly-rated Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim in their ongoing search for a permanent successor to Graham Potter.

Amorim, 38, was among the names Chelsea bosses were keen to discuss the vacancy in what they intend to be an “exhaustive” search for a new manager.

Chelsea were already determined not to rush the process and hiring Frank Lampard on a temporary basis gave them more time and scope to conduct a thorough search.

Julian Nagelsmann, available after leaving Bayern Munich, former Spain coach Luis Enrique, also out of work, are two prominent candidates who have also been talked to.

Nagelsmann in particular is believed to have influential support among the Chelsea hierarchy.

Chelsea are considering Sporting boss Ruben Amorim to be their next permanent coach The Blues have struggled this season and look unlikely to reach the Champions League semi-finals after losing the first leg of the quarter-finals 2-0 to Real Madrid Coach Todd Boyle’s side fell short In scoring for four consecutive games. or win any of the last five

However, Amorim has impressed with his work in Portugal and is back on Chelsea’s radar having previously been prior to Potter’s appointment in September.

Amorim has been coaching Sporting since March 2020, shortly after taking charge of Braga.

He led the Lisbon club to fourth place, its first league title since 2000 in 2021 and second place last season.

He also won three Portuguese League Cups in his time at Braga and Sporting, also leading the latter to the Europa League quarter-finals this season.

They lost the first leg to Juventus 1-0 on Thursday, after stunning Arsenal on penalties in the last round.

In November last year, Amorim signed a new contract at Sporting that runs until 2026 and has insisted he will not break that deal unless the buyout clause in his deal is paid.

Meanwhile, Lampard has told his Chelsea players they need to start doing simple hard work to match their talent levels and end their goal woes.

Luis Enrique remains in the picture with the Blues, Julian Nagelsmann strongly believes after results have not improved since Chelsea’s split from Graham Potter earlier this month.

Chelsea have failed to score in four consecutive matches, their worst record in front of goal since 1993, or win any of their last five matches.

Caretaker coach Lampard, who is also the club’s record goalscorer, said: “The only way to solve it is through hard work and focus.

The main thing that pushed me forward [during his career] It was my desire and my willpower.

Anything like that, whether group or individual, should be the work process and I am a firm believer that once you do that, good things happen. It sounds simple but some things are simple.

He returned to the fold for Lampard’s first game against Wolves last week, coming off the bench in the 1-0 defeat.

Although Lampard was denied his services for Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Real Madrid’s home ground after Potter opted not to sign him in Chelsea’s squad for the knockout stages.

Aubameyang, who last started for Chelsea in November against former club Arsenal, is scheduled to return to Lampard’s squad for Brighton’s visit today, putting him in the competition for extra minutes.

Asked if Aubameyang was the answer, Lampard said: “The competitive nature of the squad to get a place in the team has to be high in every position.

The interim boss, Frank Lampard, has insisted his side will only find form “through hard work and focus”.

Everyone must compete in training and prove that they deserve their place. History says he has a great goal-scoring record, so we’ll see.”

One player with little for Lampard to prove is midfielder Mason Mount, who has suffered a downturn this season amid a contract stalemate that has left his future at Chelsea in doubt.

Lampard said: “I wouldn’t tell anyone what they think of football, but if anyone thinks Mason Mount isn’t really a top-class player, I’m not sure what they see, in my opinion. Form is one of the things people can discuss.

But you can ask myself, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter, obviously he’s a top player. He can go further but he’s already a top player.

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