Guardiola snubs Chelsea for second time

Chelsea Russian owner Roman Abramovich may have to settle for home grown coach Roberto Di Matteo after being snubbed for a second time by outgoing Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, according to a report.

Guardiola was sounded out again after publicly announcing he would quit the Nou Camp this summer.

But the 41-year-old - who has been offered an incredible £12 million-a-year package - is adamant to take a year off, according to the Mirror.

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That is unlikely to deter Abramovich, who has made Guardiola his No.1 target but the latest development has given interim boss Di Matteo a real chance at getting the job.

The Italian has impressed the club's hierarchy since stepping in for the sacked Andre Villas-Boas, steering them to FA Cup final victory.

They are also still in with a chance of finishing in the top four and are in the Champions League final.

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Chelsea could decide to stick with Di Matteo until Guardiola becomes available.

The former Barca midfielder is the first choice for Abramovich who first sounded him out in March soon after Villa-Boas was axed.

Guardiola insists he wants a break even though the lure of becoming the highest-paid manager in the world is greater.

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Chelsea will not give up on their effort to rope in Guardiola who is being promised a free hand in the transfer market as well.

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has also been ruled out after he was offered a contract until 2016 by Real Madrid.

Germany coach Joachim Loew is another contender.

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Chelsea's players are increasingly calling for Di Matteo to be made permanent.

Ironically his predecessor Villas-Boas was ousted largely because of player power.

Whether it will prevail at Stamford Bridge second time round remains to be seen.