Chelsea uneasy about Nagelsmann deal over one major issue

Chelsea’s bid to secure Julian Nagelsmann who is their prime target to replace outgoing manager Graham Potter has hit a snag after the club’s decision-makers developed cold feet.

The reason for Chelsea’s apprehension in completing a deal for Nagelsmann is believed to be the German manager’s age.

At 35, it has been reported that Chelsea are unsure of how he will take control of the dressing room that has players like Thiago Silva, who is older than him, or Kalidou Koulibaly who is almost as old.

Nagelsmann’s age had previously been seen as a positive in his prior appointments as he began his career as the youngest coach in Bundesliga history after taking up the head coach position at Hoffenheim ahead of the 2016/17 season.

Despite being only 28 years old at the tim, Nagelsmann helped Hoffenheim reach the UEFA Champions League playoffs for the first time in the club’s history.

He quickly gained a reputation as one of the best young managers in the Bundesliga and set a number of records on his way to becoming Bayern Munich coach.

Nagelsmann became the youngest manager to oversee a UCL game while at Hoffenheim and them became the youngest manager to win a UCL game the following season while at RB Leipzig whom he coached to an unprecedented Champions League semifinal.

Despite Nagelsmann’s prodigious talent and array of successes despite his youth, Chelsea still appear reluctant to trust a manager who is still so young.

If Nagelsmann were to join Chelsea, he would be the second-youngest manager at the club after Andre Villas-Boas who was 33 when he was named manager of the Blues in 2011.

Given how Villas-Boas’ tenure went, it is no surprise that Chelsea are skeptical about hiring a manager this young again.

The Portuguese manager entered the club heralded as the second coming of legendary coach Jose Mourinho, but left after less than a season after he was unable to get the dressing room behind him.