Cesc Fabregas has distanced himself from the vacant Chelsea job, insisting he is focusing on his future with Italian side Como.
Chelsea are searching for their sixth head coach in five years under the BlueCo ownership after parting ways with Liam Rosenior this week.
Calum McFarlane has stepped up from the Under-21 side to serve as interim boss until the end of the season with a permanent replacement to arrive this summer.
Andoni Iraola, who will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, is among those under consideration along with Fulham’s Marco Silva.
Former Chelsea left-back Filipe Luis, excelling in Brazil with Flamengo, is also an option. But another former Blues star in Fabregas is also among the favourites.
The former Arsenal captain spent five seasons at Chelsea after a spell at Barcelona and is enjoying a successful spell in Serie A with Como where he began his coaching career just three years ago.
Como are on course to qualify for Europe in what is just their second season in the Italian top flight with the former Spain international appearing to commit his future to the project.
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Club president Mirwan Suwarso told City AM on Friday he would not stand in Fabregas’ way if he wants to take the reins at Stamford Bridge.
‘You want your employees to stay with you for as long as possible but at the end of the day we don’t own him and he’s free to go to Chelsea if he wishes,’ Suwarso said.
Quizzed on those comments, Fabregas said: ‘I don’t have to say anything, because I haven’t heard anything from the president.
‘You say that, I know nothing about it. It would be stupid to think about things that aren’t important now, because this isn’t important to me: the most important thing is Genoa, the next match, and we want to do everything to win.
Expert analysis: 'A modern and exciting style'
In Italy, most people and most pundits like his playing style. It’s a modern playing style, it’s an exciting play style, which has the features that you expect from a young, emerging manager and a young, emerging team.
A lot of courage, playing with a high line, trying to keep the ball as much as possible and really trying to have a strong identity, a strong attacking identity against any opponent.
It’s like a Spanish team playing in Serie A. He has a clear philosophy in mind.
Lorenzo Bettoni, Italian football journalist and editor of Football Italia
‘I think I’ll continue as Como’s coach: my experience as a player gives me peace of mind.’
Fabregas won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, before leaving for Monaco in 2019. In 2022 he joined Como, ending his playing career at the club before immediately beginning his coaching career.
After initially working with the youth and B-team, he was promoted to first-team assistant, helping Como secure promotion back to Serie A.
In 2024, Fabregas took over as head coach, guiding the Italian club to a tenth-place finish in their first season back in the top-flight.
Como continued their progression this season and currently sit fifth and in contention for European qualification with just five games of the season remaining.
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