GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Former Chile head coach Jorge Sampaoli has admitted he received a call from Liga MX team Chivas to enquire about his availability, but stated his future lies in Europe.
"I appreciated the call from the Chivas people, but I won't speak with any club in which a professional [coach] is working, above all out of respect for [current Chivas coach Matias] Almeyda, who I think highly of," Sampaoli told AS.
Sampaoli added that he is analyzing offers and potential projects in Europe with one eye on taking over a club in June, following his bitter parting with Chile's national team, with whom he won the Copa America last year.
"I want to take my time and not rush any decision," said the Argentine, who has been linked with Chelsea.
Almeyda is in a difficult situation with relegation-threatened Chivas, with the team still without a win in the Liga MX in 2016 and the pressure currently fierce. The news about a call to Sampaoli from someone at the club surely won't go down well.
Owner Jorge Vergara has this week publicly backed Alemyda, who admitted on Wednesday night -- after Chivas' 1-0 Copa MX victory over Leones Negros -- that he had received interest from Newell's Old Boys.
"Yes, they called me," said Almeyda. "A former teammate, Roberto Sensini, is sporting director and he called me a couple of weeks ago."
"I'm happy [at Chivas], I am working a lot to get over this [poor] moment and I want to stay here," he added.
Grupo Chivas Omnilife CEO Jose Luis Higuera denied that there was any approach to Sampaoli in an interview with La Aficion on Thursday.
"It is craziness," he said. "I don't know where it came from, but we aren't looking [for a coach]."
Former River Plate coach Almeyda enjoyed a positive start at Chivas, but form has slipped of late, with the all-Mexican team losing 1-0 last Sunday against Club Leon.
Chivas have had a tempestuous recent history with coaches, with the club averaging almost two every year since Vergara bought the club in 2002.