Freund closes door on Chelsea switch

FT Desk

• 20 Sept 2022 19:00 BST
• 3 min read

Red Bull Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund has confirmed that he will not be leaving the club to take up a job at Chelsea.

Freund has been closely linked to Stamford Bridge recently to fill a vacancy in the role.

The Austrian would have been the second major appointment already this season by the Blues, who moved to replace manager Thomas Tuchel with ex-Brighton boss Graham Potter in September following a subdued start to the 2022-23 season.

But they will now have to look elsewhere after Freund revealed that he was not interested in changing jobs mid-season.

Freund turns down Chelsea

“As I have already confirmed in interviews, Chelsea FC was interested in me,” Freund told Sky Sports Austria on Tuesday.

“When such a big club asks, it not only honours me and the work of FC Red Bull Salzburg, it is of course also a circumstance that entails personal considerations.

But I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m in the best of hands with FC Red Bull Salzburg and that a change is out of the question for me.

“We’re in the middle of a very intense phase and have important tasks to do in the (Austrian) Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League — that’s what my focus and concentration are all on.”

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Despite his negative Freund was careful to leave the door open for a future approach from Chelsea.

“Chelsea is a huge club in transition. I can’t say exactly what will happen in the next few weeks and months," he added.

"You should never rule anything out in football and Chelsea are such a huge club.”