Roberto De Zerbi is not interested in becoming Chelsea’s next manager and remains firmly committed to Brighton.
The Blues are again on the lookout for a new head coach following the decision to part company with Graham Potter just seven months after he was appointed as Thomas Tuchel’s successor.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home against Aston Villa proved to be the final straw for the 47-year-old, whose assistant Bruno Saltor will take charge of the team for tonight’s Premier League game against Liverpool.
De Zerbi, who replaced Potter at Brighton in September, has emerged as one of the candidates to fill the void created by Todd Boehly’s ruthless decision.
According to the Evening Standard, however, De Zerbi has no intention of leaving the Seagulls in the lurch with so much to play for between now and the end of the season.
Brighton are currently sixth in the Premier League table and a win over struggling Bournemouth this season would see them move to within four points of fourth placed Tottenham with two games in-hand.
De Zerbi is also planning for a trip to Wembley later this month for an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
‘I am very sorry. It is bad news for the coaches,’ he said, also referencing Brendan Rodgers’ departure from Leicester City.
‘I think you give too much importance to the coaches because the players are always the most important and I don’t like when coaches are sacked because the responsibility is not only with them.
‘The players, the club, it’s not very good news.
‘I want to say thanks to Graham Potter. I have a team with a very good attitude and mentality.
‘It is difficult when you don’t know the situation or another dressing room. I don’t like speaking about other teams and coaches. I am sorry because when there are these situations they are sad.’
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