Pat Nevin: Why Rodgers Can’t Say No to Chelsea | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers: The Pinnacle of Coaching at Chelsea

For Brendan Rodgers, managing Chelsea would be the pinnacle of his coaching career. Pat Nevin, in an insightful interview with Prime Slots, highlighted the immense allure of the Chelsea job for Rodgers. “Brendan does love Celtic, they are his team and he has had great success there. He was not welcomed back there fabulously because when he left to go to Leicester, they felt he left the club in the lurch,” Nevin remarked.

Rodgers’ return to Celtic has been marked by a mixture of acceptance and resentment, but the prospect of managing Chelsea might be too tempting to resist. Nevin expressed, “This is Chelsea and there may not be a better job for him out there. In his mind, there is probably not a bigger job out there for him. I would imagine that when he started his coaching career at Chelsea, and he closed his eyes and imagined the future, reaching the top job at Stamford Bridge would be the pinnacle of his career.”

The lure of working with a squad brimming with young talent is another compelling factor. “Turning down Premier League Chelsea, and to work with an incredible group of young players,” Nevin added, emphasising the tough decision Rodgers might face if Chelsea comes calling.

Jarrad Branthwaite: The Ideal Successor to Thiago Silva

As Chelsea look to the future, the need to find a successor to Thiago Silva becomes paramount. Pat Nevin singled out Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite as a prime candidate for this role. “I’ve been watching and writing about him this season, and Everton fans will know this as well, you have seen absolutely nothing yet,” Nevin noted, lauding Branthwaite’s impressive performances.

Branthwaite, just 21, has shown remarkable maturity and confidence. Nevin’s analysis was thorough: “This is a 21-year-old kid who is playing at the top level who looks more assured every single game. He can come out with the ball, he can spray passes, he has got real confidence.”

The young defender’s potential has not gone unnoticed, and Chelsea would do well to consider him seriously. “If I was looking for a young centre-back at an elite club in Europe, he would be top of my list. He absolutely ticks every single box for Chelsea; they buy young players for big money, he’s tall, he dominates physically and is good in the air,” Nevin stated, predicting that Branthwaite would command a high transfer fee.

Chelsea’s Striker Conundrum: Beyond Jackson

Chelsea’s attacking options have been under scrutiny, with Nevin emphasising the need for an elite striker to complement or replace Jackson. “In reality, the one thing Chelsea needed at the start of the season was creativity and they got that with Cole Palmer. Thiago Silva is leaving and they have to assess what the centre-back positions look like,” Nevin explained.

While Jackson has shown promise, Nevin believes he lacks the finishing prowess required for the Premier League’s elite level. “Jackson has shown more and more as the season has gone on, there’s a maturity growing because he is not a natural finisher who is going to get you 35 goals a season,” Nevin observed.

Nevin’s analysis pointed to the potential synergy between Jackson and Palmer, highlighting Palmer’s creative influence. “Palmer is a genius passer and Jackson is now starting to learn that if he just makes those sorts of runs, then there is a strong chance the ball will arrive,” he said. However, the need for an additional striker remains pressing. “Chelsea need another number 9 because they have just one and that is not enough for the elite level of the Premier League,” Nevin concluded.