Former Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has dropped a massive hint regarding his potential involvement with the club next season as the Blues returned for preseason training on Monday.
Carlo Cudicini is widely regarded as a Blues legend for his performances during his ten-season spell at Stamford Bridge. The goalkeeper has a stellar record with Chelsea, racking up over 100 clean sheets in close to 200 appearances for the club. Cudicini was part of two title-winning campaigns with the Blues and won a total of six major trophies during his time at SW6.
The 42-year-old left Chelsea for London rivals Tottenham in 2009, but there seems to be no bad blood between the fans and the Italian shot-stopper. Cudicini then joined MLS outfit LA Galaxy in December 2012 and spent a full year at the club before being released in early 2014.
There were reports earlier by the London Evening Standard suggesting that new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was looking to add the goalkeeper to his coaching staff as he begins his Italian revolution at Stamford Bridge. The report also claimed that the former Chelsea no.1 was involved in negotiations between Conte and the club’s hierarchy at the end of last season.
Although it is understood that Conte has started taking English lessons in earnest before joining the Blues, the former Juventus manager may ask Cudicini to join the backroom staff on a full-time basis and help him get his message across to the players properly.
Importantly, Cudicini has also had some first-hand experience in a coaching role due to his involvement with the Republic of Ireland U21 squad. On Sunday, a day before the Chelsea first-team were scheduled to report for preseason training, the Italian fuelled speculation regarding a potential return to Stamford Bridge in an official capacity with the following message on Twitter:
Tomorrow starts a new challenge… Blue is the colour! @ChelseaFC
— Carlo Cudicini (@Capitancarloc) July 10, 2016
There seems to be a breath of fresh air around Chelsea following the appointment of Conte — particularly after Italy’s performances at the Euros — and fans are excited at the prospect of the master tactician testing his wits against other managerial greats like Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp among others.
The Premier League looks set for its most exciting season yet with the arrival of world class players and managers in England. Although Conte is an experienced coach himself, having a compatriot who knows the club through and through alongside him might prove to be beneficial as he navigates through the initial obstacles of what is sure to be his biggest managerial challenge yet.
