Chelsea's hopes of securing Pep Guardiola as André Villas-Boas's replacement appear even slimmer after it emerged the Barcelona manager may opt to take a year-long sabbatical if he leaves Camp Nou at the end of this season.
Guardiola's glittering spell in charge at the Catalan club has made him Roman Abramovich's favoured candidate to succeed the Portuguese, who was dismissed on Sunday eight months into a three-year contract. Although Chelsea's pursuit of the 41-year-old had always appeared somewhat optimistic, advisers to the oligarch had suggested that, alongside José Mourinho, the Barça coach should be considered a realistic target.
Their conviction had been fuelled by the uncertainty in Spain over whether Guardiola will accept a contract extension to remain at the European champions, with his deal set to expire at the end of the season. The Barcelona coach – who has won 13 of the 16 trophies he has contested since taking over at his home club in 2008, including the European Cup twice – has tended to sign one-year contract extensions early in the new year and although he is happy at Camp Nou, he has spoken more recently of his fears of burnout.
Guardiola and his assistant, Tito Vilanova, met the Barça president, Sandro Rosell, last week but did not reach an agreement over an extension – the club would like him to sign a two-year deal this time round – with reports in Spain suggesting he will seek a break from the game if he decides to leave in the summer. The Barcelona coach laughed off questions on the vacant Chelsea position on Tuesday. Asked if he had spoken to the club about the position he joked "every day, every day", though there was some sympathy for Villas-Boas.
The Portuguese had dedicated last season's Europa League success with Porto to Guardiola, whom he had sought out for advice earlier in his fledgling coaching career and greatly admires, and the late Sir Bobby Robson. "I think he is a fantastic coach but we all know that in this business everything depends on results and not on our own capacity as a coach," said Guardiola. "Time is not something you get, but when you do this job you know that. I can't comment any more because I don't know the situation at Chelsea, but the results never came."
Other potential candidates distanced themselves from the position, with Harry Redknapp – a leading contender for the vacant England manager's role ahead of the summer's European Championship – claiming that although Chelsea should be considered "a dream job", he is not interested.
"It would be difficult," said the Tottenham Hotspur manager. "I wouldn't be able to come back to north London. So no, I will pass on that one."
The highly rated Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers, a former reserve-team coach at Stamford Bridge, offered a starker assessment of what awaits Villas-Boas's successor by claiming he is looking to build a career and "not destroy it".
He added: "The transition that is needed at the club is very much evident and it's a job that requires sensitivity about where the club is at. It's about understanding and respecting what the players have done there and also having that ruthless streak to manage the club. If any of our fans are wondering about me and Chelsea, they need not panic. I am trying to build my career and not destroy it."
The Germany coach, Joachim Löw, was more coy when questioned about the vacancy but is unlikely to seek a move away from the national federation. "I have a contract as national team coach until 2014," he said.
"The European Championships start in three months' time and everyone knows my goal. I see no reason for me to comment on media speculation."
Rafael Benítez, the former Liverpool manager, expressed a desire to be considered by Abramovich this week as he seeks a return to management 14 months after being sacked at Internazionale. The Spaniard had been sounded out over the possibility of taking over until the end of the season at Stamford Bridge but indicated he would consider only a longer-term arrangement until the summer of 2013.
Chelsea's supporters, who had endured a torrid relationship with Benítez's Liverpool, made their feelings clear before kick-off at Tuesday night's FA Cup fifth-round replay against Birmingham City by chanting against the Spaniard's candidacy and bellowing Mourinho's name.Copy ends
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