Lippi: Blues want me to take reins

[Lazie]

<SPAN id=intelliTXT><H1></H1><P class=story_panel_text valign="top"><SPAN id=intelliTXT nd="1">World Cup winning boss Marcello Lippi claims Chelsea want him to replace Jose Mourinho and he insists he is "enthusiastic" to coach in England</SPAN><P nd="2">The 58-year-old, who led Italy to glory in the summer, says he is being tailed by a number of clubs "but specifically Chelsea," as the Blues prepare for the departure of their Portuguese manager at the end of the season. <P nd="3">Mourinho's dissatisfaction with life at Stamford Bridge has become increasingly apparent, and the board's failure to back him in his search for defensive reinforcements in the January window was underlined by a serious injury to Ashley Cole on Wednesday night. <P nd="4">But it seems the board have their own plans for a change of manager. <P nd="5">"I'm aware that I'm on the wanted list at a number of big clubs but specifically Chelsea and I regard that as only natural," said Lippi. <P nd="6">"I know I'm a good coach and if anyone is surprised about top clubs like Chelsea wanting me then I just point to my record." <P nd="7">The Italian's CV certainly stands up to the demands Chelsea would make. When Mourinho was appointed, it was as a result of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy headhunting Europe's most wanted coach - a title Lippi currently claims for himself. <P nd="8">"I have coached teams which have reached the Champions League final four times, I've won Serie A five times and of course the World Cup, too," he insisted. <P nd="9">"If anyone thinks that a move to a big English club is beyond me then I'd just say 'give me a break'." <P nd="10">Lippi is determined to secure a role in the Premiership - and has even been taking English lessons in the time since he left the Italy post. <P nd="11">"I'm ready, willing and enthusiastic to coach in England even though I know that people mistakenly say I can't speak English," he said. <P nd="12">"What such people forget is that football is multi-lingual - every major club has players from many different countries and I can speak enough English and French as well as Italian. <P nd="13">"There are already a number of foreign coaches working in England so I cannot see why people might say that Chelsea is not the place for me. <P nd="14">"It feels wholly understandable after a year out and given my CV that a big club wants to sign me and I will make my final decision in May."</SPAN>