Where does the future of Carlo Ancelotti lie?

Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid continues to be uncertain as Chelsea are weighing up options to sign him as permanent manager next season.

The name of Carlo Ancelotti is being considered for a second stint at Chelsea. The idea is expected to gain greater traction should the Italian manager leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. Clouds of doubt continue to surround Ancelotti’s future at Santiago Bernabeu and as such, it won’t be surprising to see him making the switch to Stamford Bridge by the end of the season.

Having sacked their second manager this season in Graham Potter, Chelsea, led by owner Todd Boehly, decided to appoint former coach Frank Lampard as caretaker manager until the end of the season. Potter lasted only seven months in charge of the Blues, having replaced Thomas Tuchel last September.

Ancelotti is not the only name on Chelsea’s wishlist however as ESPN report that the club are considering at least seven candidates. Included among them are also names like Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, and Mauricio Pochettino.

However, the uncertainty surrounding Ancelotti’s contract in Spain as well as the fact that he led Real Madrid to the Champions League last season weighs up well in his favour.

Ancelotti, who won a Premier League and FA Cup double in 2009-10 during his two-year stint as Chelsea manager, is preparing to face his former club in a Champions League quarterfinal first leg in Madrid on Wednesday.

Sources surrounding Ancelotti’s camp have accepted the fact that the four-time Champions League manager is under a bit of pressure this season as Real Madrid trail Barcelona by 12 points in La Liga and had also conceded the Spanish Super Cup to them.

However, they did beat them 4-0 to make a comeback in the second leg of the Copa Del Rey recently to make their way to the final. Ancelotti also delivered the 14^th Champions League title in Madrid’s history with his side’s victory over Liverpool in the final last year.

The 63-year-old has restored his reputation as one of the game's great coaches at Madrid, having returned to the club for a second period in charge in 2021 after an 18-month spell as Everton manager.

ESPN have also reported that Chelsea are looking at a coach who works in tandem with a technical director and want to adopt that model at the club on a long-term basis. It is a structure that the Italian head coach has adhered to for most of his career.

Moreover, he has also shown an inclination to work with younger coaches, including Paul Clement at Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid, as well as Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu - opening up the prospect of a similar ideology at Chelsea.

When asked whether he would’ve wanted to swap positions with Barcelona manager Xavi ahead of the previous El Clasico, Ancelotti had said, "I don't want to swap with anyone because I'm very happy here at the best club in the world, in a place where people love me, there's a lot of affection. So I don't want to change."

"That's what I'm thinking right now. I'm excited because the season is alive, we'll play our fourth final this season. Right now we're happy; we have to finish well, it's true that we're behind in the league because Barcelona have done very well, we have four points fewer than last season and they have many more.

"We're satisfied. To finish the season well would mean winning more trophies, that would mean a spectacular season."