Emmanuel Petit has given his verdict on the speculation linking Zinedine Zidane with the Stamford Bridge hot seat amid Graham Potter's struggles, with a stinging barb launched at Todd Boehly
The Frenchman triumphed in the biggest European club football tournament during three successive years at Real Madrid, becoming the first manager to achieve that feat since the competition was rebranded in the early-1990s. The 50-year-old is currently on the market having been without a job since leaving Los Blancos for the second time in 2021.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Zidane is 'in the running', alongside fellow Champions League-winning coach Luis Enrique, to replace Potter, should the decision be made to part ways. However, former Chelsea player Emmanuel Petit says he does not think Zidane will end up in west London.
Petit, who played for the Blues between 2001 and 2004, instead believes Zidane’s preference will be managing French giants Paris Saint-Germain. He also launched a stinging attack on Blues co-owner Todd Boehly who apparently "knows nothing about football".
Speaking as a pundit for RMC Sport, Petit said: "I may be wrong, but I don’t believe for a second in the rumour of Zizou going to Chelsea.
"You spoke about it when you introduced the topic: Zizou doesn’t speak English, and while he might be learning it, knowing his style of management and how he works with players, he likes being close, and you need communication for that.
"I’ve had feedback from fans who have said that they don’t want Zinedine Zidane because he’s never declared his flame to the Premier League and he’s openly said that he much prefers a technical game, which I can completely understand when you look at the manager he is and player he was.
"The one argument I agree with is that he needs a job after being two years without one, and he might be Boehly’s choice, but Boehly, pardon me, he knows nothing about football.
"If he’s just flashing on the bling-bling of the name, then there’s plenty of other managers out there who don’t have a job and know the Premier League better."