Former Chelsea hero Ruud Gullit believes Pep Guardiola will struggle to bring about anything similar to the success he enjoyed during his time with Barcelona, if he decides to take the manager's job with the Blues.
The Spanish manager, who has taken a one-year sabbatical from the game, has been heavily linked with the top job at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich making Guardiola his No. 1 target.
However, Guardiola has already rebuffed two advances from Chelsea - first made in the summer and the second a week or so back, just prior to the firing of Roberto Di Matteo.
Guardiola enjoyed a highly successful spell with Barcelona, and is now coveted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe to take over, once he ends his sabbatical at the end of the season.
Manchester City, AC Milan and Manchester United, when Sir Alex Ferguson retires, have also been linked with a move. However, despite being one of the most wanted managers in Europe, Gullit believes Guardiola will struggle to live up to his reputation at another club.
"I think what Pep did with Barcelona is difficult to repeat," he told reporters. "Also because he had the players there. You cannot do the same thing twice, especially not in another culture.
"I remember with other cultures, they try because they think they have a formula, and it doesn't apply everywhere. No, it doesn't."
After firing Di Matteo, a highly popular figure among the Chelsea fans, and then appointing Rafa Benitez, who had a tumultuous relationship with the Blues during his time with Liverpool, as his replacement until the end of the season, Abramovich came for much criticism, but Gullit thinks the Russian owner has the right to make whatever decision he wants, while adding he had brought much success since taking over.
"Abramovich (has done) a great job at Chelsea," he added. "Development, new training ground, trophies, he also brought them trophies.
"So for that reason you cannot blame him. But sometimes it's a hard cookie to swallow in the way things happen. But it's his club, he can do what he likes.
"I'm afraid (what) the consequences can be. Publicly-wise. About Chelsea. Because I love Chelsea, I love the way the club has evolved, now you have to work hard to get your sympathy back."