Chelsea set to announce Roberto Di Matteo's successor
Chelsea are hoping to appoint Roberto Di Matteo's successor on Wednesday.
Di Matteo was
sacked following the 3-0 Champions League defeat by Juventus.
Owner Roman Abramovich is known to be a long-term admirer of Pep Guardiola but it is unclear whether the former Barcelona coach can be tempted back into management.
Chelsea have made contact with former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to gauge his interest in taking charge on a short-term basis.
The club's board met earlier on Wednesday and their next appointment is likely to be a short-term role rather than a long-term replacement for Di Matteo, according to BBC Sports editor David Bond.
In the statement announcing Di Matteo's sacking on Wednesday morning, Chelsea said they hoped to announce a new manager "shortly".
Chelsea, who are looking for a ninth manager since Abramovich took over in 2003, contacted Benitez before Tuesday's defeat in Italy as he assessed his options.
Chelsea managers under Roman Abramovich
- Claudio Ranieri: Sep 2000 to May 2004
- Jose Mourinho: Jun 2004 to Sep 2007
- Avram Grant: Sep 2007 to May 2008
- Luiz Felipe Scolari: Jul 2008 to Feb 2009
- Guus Hiddink: Feb 2009 to May 2009
- Carlo Ancelotti: Jun 2009 to May 2011
- Andre Villas-Boas: Jun 2011 to Mar 2012
- Roberto Di Matteo: Mar 2012 to Nov 2012
Benitez, 52, who is currently in Abu Dhabi, has been out of work since he was
sacked by Inter Milan in December 2010
after just six months in charge, but has made it clear he is interested in the job.
He
joined Liverpool from Valencia in 2004
and
won the Champions League in 2005,
as well as
reaching the final in 2007,
before
leaving Anfield by mutual consent in 2010.
On Wednesday he told Abu Dhabi-based website Sport 360: "I have just found out [about Di Matteo]. Obviously Chelsea is a top side and they can compete for trophies so it goes in this category."
Asked if Chelsea had approached him, he said: "You ask directly, I cannot answer directly.
"In football a lot of people are talking so we will see what happens in the next few days. I am looking for a club that can challenge for trophies and Chelsea is one of these clubs."
When Benitez was asked about the prospect of managing on a short-term basis, he added: "I have to talk with my agent and see what he has been doing the last couple of days.
"But I am just trying to go to a team that can win. So we will find ways to have a challenge like this."
Di Matteo won the Champions League and FA Cup as caretaker manager last season and was given a two-year deal in June.
But in the wake of the defeat to Juventus, which has left the Blues on the brink of a Champions League exit, he has left Stamford Bridge after just eight months in charge.
Di Matteo's compensation is still being worked out and he is likely to continue to be paid until he finds a new post elsewhere.
After an impressive start to the season, the Blues have won two of their last eight games.
They sit third in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Manchester City, who they host at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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