Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that Chelsea offered him the chance to take over as interim manager last season, before they settled on Thomas Tuchel as Frank Lampard's permanent replacement.
Rangnick has since been snapped up by Manchester United on a temporary basis, taking over until the end of the season as head coach before he moves into an advisory role for a further two years.
After red tape delayed his appearance on the touchline - the German was forced to watch United's victory over Arsenal on Thursday from the stands - he will finally be in the dugout for his new side's meeting with Crystal Palace.
Speaking before that game, Rangnick explained why he turned down a Premier League move with Chelsea before being tempted to England by the Red Devils' offer.
"When Chelsea contacted me last year, they only spoke about the option to become interim manager for four months, without any prospective to work in the long term together," he said.
"Now here we are talking about six-and-a-half months, so we only have one third of the games played in the Premier League.
"We have also agreed on a two-year advisory role after those six-and-a-half months. In the end, to be honest, if a club like Manchester United contacts you for such a role you cannot possibly turn it down."
Rangnick arrives at Old Trafford with United lagging behind his former suitors. The Red Devils currently sit in seventh, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.
Results towards the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure were ropey with damaging defeats to Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City, followed by a 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Watford, ultimately costing him his job.
Since then though, things improved under caretaker boss Michael Carrick, who won two and drew one of his three games in charge before departing the club on Thursday.
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Source : 90min