In our look at the latest Chelsea-related news stories from the media, Emerson talks about Eden Hazard’s final message to the Chelsea players’ WhatsApp group, Claude Makelele is reportedly coming back to work at Chelsea and Ian Holloway tips John Terry for managerial greatness.
These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.
Emerson on Hazard’s farewell note
According to The Mirror, Emerson has revealed how he felt after reading Eden Hazard’s last message to his Chelsea team-mates on their WhatsApp group.
During a televised appearance on ESPN Brazil, the Chelsea ful-back admitted he couldn’t quite believe the Belgian had left the club until he saw what would be his final post on the chat group.
‘On the WhatsApp group, the last message there was Hazard’s farewell,’ said the 24-year-old Italy international defender, speaking in Portuguese.
‘He said goodbye to the boys and such, since then, we don’t know anything else. It’s weird.
‘He sent a ‘thank you, I love you guys’, and then it showed ‘Eden Hazard left the group’.
‘I said damn, he really left.’
Makelele linked with Chelsea return
The Evening Standard is reporting that former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele is set to return to Stamford Bridge in a coaching role after resigning as manager of Belgian side KAS Eupen.
The 46-year-old Frenchman helped unfancied Eupen to maintain their place in the Belgian top flight for the past two seasons but the Standard reports that ‘he is being lined up to work with the loan players at Chelsea’.
Makelele was a big favourite with his Chelsea team-mates and fans during his successful five-season spell with the club from 2003 to 2008 when we won two league titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup and reached the Champions League final.
If he returned, he would join a number of former Chelsea stars in coaching roles at the club, including Joe Cole, Tore Andre Flo, Paulo Ferreira, Eddie Newton and Carlo Cudicini.
Holloway tips Terry for greatness as a manager
Former Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has told TalkSport that John Terry has all the right qualities to succeed as a football manager after watching the Chelsea legend on the sidelines during the Championship play-off final last month.
Reacting to reports that Terry is being lined up to become the new manager of Derby County if Frank Lampard decides to leave Pride Park, Holloway said the 38-year-old looks ready to make the step up from being an assistant manager under Dean Smith at Aston Villa.
‘I was at the play-off final, and I was lucky enough to be working almost around the pitch as all the players first came out,’ said Holloway.
‘He was pulling them aside, talking to them. Tyrone Mings said he wanted to go on loan to Aston Villa to learn from him.
‘He’s got a presence, and it’s a wonderful presence. There’s a calmness about him. The belief he gave Villa that day…
‘Dean Smith doesn’t need John Terry, in my opinion, because Dean Smith and his backroom staff are a different class.
‘But Dean has said what a wonderful lad he is, what a wonderful member of staff he is and that’s he’s enjoyed working with him.
‘So he’s got all sorts of things that automatically make him look like a manager, to me.’
Mourinho eyeing national manager job
The Daily Mail is reporting that former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is looking to manage a national team instead of a club for his next coaching job.
Appearing on Eleven Sports, the three-time Premier League winner with the Blues admitted he was looking for a new challenge after his spells in charge of the Blues, Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
'I want to compete in new competitions. I think about the World Cup and the European Championships,’ said the Portuguese.
'For a long time I have had the desire to try out such an adventure. Right now, I see myself more at a national team than with a new club.
'Is Portugal the right team for me? Not necessarily.'