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6 months ago
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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has broken his silence on speculation linking him to the Chelsea job.
McKenna has led to Ipswich to back-to-back promotions to the Premier League and was crowned the League Managers Association's manager of the year on Tuesday night.
He has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Chelsea following the axing of Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino left Stamford Bridge by 'mutual consent' after just one season, despite guiding them to sixth with a stellar run of form to finish the campaign.
'When you do well as a manager or player, there is always going to be speculation,' McKenna told Sky Sports.
#Chelsea-linked Kieran McKenna:
“When you do well as a manager, or player, there is always going to be speculation. That’s not where my focus is. Tonight is about what we achieved last season [and] over the last couple of seasons.”
Kieran McKenna has broken his silence after being linked to the vacant Chelsea job
'I know what we have achieved is not an ordinary thing, so of course there is going to be speculation.
'But that’s not where my focus is. Tonight is about what we achieved last season [and] over the last couple of seasons, not just myself but everyone at the football club.
'It's been a wonderful couple of years so tonight is about celebrating that.
'I know that everyone is looking forward to next season and the club is going to be in a really good place going into that season.'
McKenna's name has been thrown around for multiple big jobs following his success with Ipswich.
He was appointed at Portman Road in December 2021 with Ipswich 12th in League One.
The 38-year-old is the first Championship boss to win the LMA's manager of the year gong in 18 years, beating out Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
He has been named as a candidate for Manchester United and Brighton jobs.
Mauricio Pochettino was axed on Tuesday night after leading Chelsea to sixth this season
McKenna was crowned the League Managers Association's manager of the year on Tuesday night
United have reportedly made initial contact with McKenna, with part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to make a decision on Erik ten Hag's future this summer.
Chelsea are said to be looking for a young manager to take the reins within the next few days.
Mail Sport has put together a list of seven potential next Chelsea bosses, including McKenna, Thomas Tuchel (yes, a return), Vincent Kompany, and Thomas Frank.
German outlet BILD reported on Tuesday night that Hansi Flick, Bayern Munich's former Champions-League winning boss, was interested in the job and had been discussed in the Chelsea boardroom in the past.
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