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Carragher urges Chelsea to hire Iraola, slams board after Nottingham Forest defeat

Jamie Carragher has urged Chelsea to appoint Andoni Iraola as their next manager, criticizing the club’s board after a shocking defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Aksel Kryhlmand

·

May 5, 2026

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Chelsea’s season plumbed new depths on Monday, suffering a sixth-straight defeat as Nottingham Forest ran out 3-1 winners at Stamford Bridge.

The result effectively extinguished the Blues’ faint hopes of securing a fifth-place finish and a coveted spot in next season’s Champions League, prompting a scathing assessment from pundit Jamie Carragher.

Interim manager Callum McFarlane, who recently guided Chelsea to the FA Cup final with a win over Leeds, will remain in charge for the remainder of the season, including the Wembley showpiece.

However, the club is actively working to identify a permanent successor, with Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva reportedly among those of interest.

Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, did not mince words, laying the blame for Chelsea’s current struggles squarely at the feet of board members Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly.

He painted a grim picture of a club in disarray, highlighting the stark contrast to their recent past.

“It’s shocking, and it comes from the top; that’s where it starts from,” Carragher stated. “There are five or six really top players on that pitch, and they’ve just been beaten by Nottingham Forest’s B team. When you think, less than 12 months ago, they were taking PSG to the cleaners. I mean, there’s no connection between the players and the staff, the players and the supporters. And you know what, in some ways it’s a good thing, it tells you that football isn’t just about spending and buying players, and a revolving door. It’s about creating something together; something special … there’s absolutely nothing there, and all you can say is that this football club is broken.”

Amidst the widespread criticism, Carragher offered a clear recommendation for the managerial hot seat: Andoni Iraola. The former Liverpool defender believes Iraola’s style of play could reignite the passion among the disillusioned fanbase.

“I almost feel like Chelsea supporters need to fall back in love with the club again,” Carragher explained. “Right now, I don’t feel like there’s any real feeling, there’s a real dislike for the people running the club but the people playing for the club as well.”

He added, “When you see someone like Iraola, I don’t think you could ever fall out of love with his team if you were a supporter. You understand what I mean? They always run. There’s always that running element. They will lose games. They will maybe pick up injuries because of the style of play.”

Carragher also dismissed several high-profile names from contention, ruling out former Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard, and Antonio Conte, as well as Crystal Palace head coach Olivier Glasner.

He also suggested Xabi Alonso would be unlikely to join due to his strong links with Liverpool, while acknowledging the promising managerial careers of former Blues Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis.

The pundit’s comments underscore the immense challenge facing Chelsea’s ownership and the incoming permanent manager.

With the club described as “broken” and a disconnect between players, staff, and supporters, the next appointment will be crucial in attempting to rebuild a fractured institution.

Sources: www.standard.co.uk