Man Utd cannot sleep on biggest manager appointment since 2013 in hardest summer
If it wasn’t already, the writing appears to be on the wall for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United barring a monumental turnaround between now and the end of the season both in terms of results and performances. The club now needs to act quickly in what is set to be the busiest summer of managerial change in over a decade.
Sunday’s derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium left United 11 points off fourth and six off that frankly ridiculous potential fifth spot for Champions League football, and they have played a game more than Spurs.
It feels unlikely that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team will wait until qualification is a mathematically impossible task as the Glazers did with David Moyes in 2014 to avoid a bigger pay-out, and an FA Cup triumph will not paper over what has been a desperately disappointing season.
READ: The 10 most depressing Premier League clubs to support in the last decade
Granted there have been mitigating factors such as the constant off-field issues that blighted much of the campaign, the loss of Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez among others for months on end and the general malaise United find themselves in as a club, but that only goes so far and a level of standards remain. And those standards have not been met.
Related video: Ten Hag says gap between Man Utd and Man City 'not that big'. (Sports AlDente)
Manchester United faced a tough three to one defeat against
Results are easy to analyse – and certainly coming bottom of a relatively easy Champions League group on top of 11 league losses are hard to argue against – but performances, system and style are just as important to consider when deciding whether a manager is fit for the long term.
With Ratcliffe looking for ‘best in class’ across the board, Ten Hag hasn’t done enough this season to suggest he will deliver that – if anything, United’s direction has been downwards since their League Cup win last season, which was intended to act as a springboard. Again, not all of it is the manager’s fault – it never is at United – but change seems imminent.
Ratcliffe and his INEOS colleagues Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, have already been decisive in their opening weeks at Old Trafford. Omar Berrada has been lured from Manchester City, Dan Ashworth will arrive once he’s finished tending to his garden, and Jason Wilcox and Dougie Freedman look to be next on the executive shopping list.
READ: Ferdinand has already dismissed Man Utd’s ‘ideal candidate’ for recruitment role with £50m drivel
Some, if not all, of this brains trust will decide the managerial position. Right now, they have a free hit given new owners (or head of football operations) almost always get their own man, but they will be responsible if Ten Hag is kept on and then dismissed next season.
It is a big call but one that needs to be made sharpish, particularly given the current football landscape.
With PSR, FPP et al. set to somewhat restrict the player transfer market this summer, the managerial market could take centre stage, especially with the clubs involved.
Already three of the biggest clubs in the world are on the look-out for new managers, and United will be analysing the same targets as Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona outside of Xabi Alonso, who is almost certain not to cross the divide.
Chelsea and Juventus could be added to that list, which also includes Serie A champions, Napoli, but they are realistically not a true threat to United’s plans.
READ: Ranking elite club summer vacancies by desirability as jobs: Manchester United ahead of Liverpool
There are very few, if any, proven top-level options out there, with Ruben Amorim, Julien Nagelsmann and Roberto De Zerbi perhaps the best options outside of Alonso.
Zinedine Zidane is reportedly ‘admired’ by INEOS, but he seems to be waiting on the France job for the meantime and has never shown any indication of working in England. Thomas Tuchel’s reputation has been bruised at Bayern, and he has no record of being a long-term fit.
It is a summer in sharp contrast to 2016 when Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte came to the Premier League, and while the Portuguese gaffer eventually flamed out at United, he was a marked improvement on their 2013 appointment, when one special era ended, and the ongoing shambolic one began.
As is widely known and oft-derided, Sir Alex Ferguson selected David Moyes as his successor, leading to his tongue-in-cheek anointment as ‘The Chosen One’.
It was very much a play on words for Mourinho, who allegedly broke down in tears when he realised he would not replace his managerial idol, instead having to decamp to Chelsea for a second stint.
Elsewhere in the last European managerial merry-go-round, Guardiola went to Bayern Munich (albeit it was agreed at Christmas 2012), and Carlo Ancelotti pitched up at Real Madrid for the first time.
Laurent Blanc replaced the Italian at PSG, not that he ever reached the heights in the dug-out that he did on the pitch.
Jurgen Klopp could and should have been approached, although 12 months later Ed Woodward would attempt to woo him, telling him United was “like an adult version of Disneyland”. Unsurprisingly, this was met with a polite no.
United plumped for Moyes instead, taking the word of their legendary former manager, which pointed to the lack of leadership elsewhere in the club – David Gill also stepped down at the same time, which did not help things then or since.
In 2013, Fergie told those at the heart of the United operations he would be stepping down in February, with it not being leaked and then officially announced until May. The club had time to make a proper decision, even if it was ill-thought out and botched.
In 2024, Ratcliffe and co. have a month less, but one suspects, based on their actions so far, the process has already begun. Moyes is likely to be available again if all else fails.
READ: Who will be the next Manchester United manager?
Man Utd youngster makes unofficial return from loan spell after manager hits out at him
Manchester United have quietly brought youngster Maxi Oyedele back to the club, just weeks after he joined Forest Green Rovers on loan.
The highly-rated midfielder, 19, has been on the books at United since the age of eight and was part of the side which won the FA Youth Cup during the 2021/22 campaign. He is also a Poland youth international and has won three caps for their Under-21 side to date.
After progressing through the ranks, Oyedele was set up with a loan move to the EFL this season in order to continue his development. However, his six month loan with League Two strugglers Forest Green has not gone to plan - and is seemingly over already.
According to a new report from The Mail, United have not officially recalled Oyedele from his loan, but he is expected to feature for Travis Binnion's U21s rather than Forest Green for the remainder of the campaign. The youngster will also get the chance to train with the first-team in a bid to continue his development.
Oyedele only joined Forest Green in January and was brought to Gloucestershire by Troy Deeney, who was sacked after just 29 days in charge. The midfielder has found minutes had to come by under his successor, Steve Cotterill, making just four appearances in total.
Speaking after Oyedele was given 35 minutes to impress in the 2-0 defeat to Crawley last month, Cotterill made it clear he wanted to see more from the youngster. He said: "He has to do a lot more to get in the starting line-up. I didn't feel there was enough productivity from him in the second half."Related video: United manager Ten Hag demands apology from Fulham for Fernandes video (Reuters)
I would say it's not right
It's expected that Oyedele, who has previously spent time on loan in non-league with Altrincham, will be sent out on another loan next season in a bid to gain more first-team experience.
Join the debate! Who do you think will be the next big thing at Man Utd? Let us know here.
© Matthew Peters/Manchester United FC
Forest Green were already in a relegation battle when Oyedele arrived at the club in the January transfer window. Deeney was backed in the window before he was axed by owner Dale Vince just days after publicly chastising his players following a sobering defeat to Harrogate Town.
Speaking of Oyedele, Deeney said in January: “Maxi is a wonderful talent and we’re extremely lucky to have him here. The fans will enjoy watching him and we need to make sure we get him in a place where he can showcase his talents.”
Forest Green are currently 23rd in the League Two table and five points adrift of safety.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes feelings clear on Bruno Fernandes being made Man Utd captain
Bruno Fernandes is “too passionate” as a captain and is prone to losing control at times, according to former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Fernandes was made captain by Erik ten Hag in the summer after the Dutchman took the armband off Harry Maguire, who had worn it for three and a half years. The decision was a signal of intent from Ten Hag, who made it clear that Maguire was not in his first-choice starting XI.
Maguire came close to leaving in the aftermath of the decision, but ended up staying to continue playing under Fernandes’ leadership this season. The Portugal international has a very different style and is frequently seen remonstrating with the referee after calls don’t go his team’s way.
That has led to criticism from former United skipper Roy Keane, who said in January that Fernandes was “killing and costing” his team with his emotional leadership and erratic playing style. Solskjaer was the manager who made Maguire captain and has hinted at why he prefers the England defender to Fernandes in an interview with the Stick to Football podcast.
“I knew Bruno Fernandes had captain qualities when I was manager at Manchester United,” he said. “He’s got the personality and quality – but he knows and I’ve told him – that he’s too passionate at times and he loses a bit of control. I loved Harry Maguire as a captain, he was the leader in that group for me when I was at the club.”Related video: Man United boss Ten Hag demands Fulham apology for Fernandes video (Reuters)
I would say it's not right
He added: “The way that Harry Maguire has handled himself with everything happening to him at Manchester United is top class and just shows the character he’s got, that I want in players. They dig in, don’t jump ship at the first opportunity, stay in there and do the best you can.
“I remember his first training session and he looked like a man mountain compared to the others, and he came in and played well, but obviously over time, he got lots of criticism.” Solskjaer revealed in November that he has stayed in touch with Maguire, who has endured a difficult time this season.
© Getty Images
HAVE YOUR SAY! Do you agree with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? Comment below.
“I am very happy that Harry in particular shows what kind of player he is, but not least what kind of type and person he is,” he said at the time. “That's why I made him captain. We in Norway call it 'hell wood'.”
United sources told Mirror Football in the summer that Ten Hag chose Fernandes because of his commitment to the highest standards he demands of himself and from the rest of the squad. It was hoped that his burning desire to win would inspire his team-mates, but United have endured a poor campaign.
They sit sixth in the Premier League, 11 points outside the top four after their 3-1 defeat in the Manchester derby on the weekend. Ten Hag’s side were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage, but remain in the FA Cup, where they will face Liverpool in the quarter-final on March 17.
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Erling Haaland speaks out on his Man City future amid Real Madrid links
Erling Haaland has rubbished the speculation surrounding his future, saying he is ‘really happy’ at Manchester City.
However, the striker sensation did say ‘you never know what the future brings’, amid rumours he is reluctant to sign a new contract.
Reports from Spain have claimed that Haaland is unhappy in Manchester and is looking for a new challenge abroad, with Real Madrid interested in his services.
Pep Guardiola has previously dismissed these claims, with City prepared to hand their star player a new long-term contract, with his current deal expiring in 2027, following his exploits this season.
So far, the 23-year-old has scored 28 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions this season, as the Citizens look to defend their treble crown.
And that is Haaland’s only focus at the moment, according to the player himself after he was asked about his future at the Etihad.
‘I’m really happy [at City], especially with the people, the manager, the directors, the board, a group of amazing people…,’ the Norway international said in his Champions League pre-match press conference.
© Provided by Metro
‘Tomorrow, you never know what the future brings, but again, I’m happy. You can write this, but I’m happy…
‘My focus is mainly now on the pitch, there’s a lot of games. Two days ago a [Manchester] derby, now the UCL, Sunday is Liverpool. So I think I should focus on that.’
City host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday night having won the first-leg 3-1.Related video: Haaland: 'Messi is the best that's ever played' (SNTV)
As Haaland mentions, they then face perhaps their toughest test of the entire season on Sunday when they travel to Anfield to face Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Victory over the Reds would see the Citizens leapfrog their rivals to the top of the table, but they’ll have little time to rest as just six days later they host Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Haaland’s late goal against Manchester United last Sunday saw him reach a scarcely believable 80 goals in 84 games since signing for City in the summer of 2022.
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Javier Mascherano explains why Inter Miami star Lionel Messi might not play for Argentina at the 2024 Olympic Games
It “won’t be easy” for Inter Miami playmaker Lionel Messi to be involved in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, according to Javier Mascherano, coach of Argentina’s Under-23 team.
Mascherano: “No pressure on Messi” for Paris Olympics
“I spoke with Leo and we agreed to talk about it again further down the line. He has just started the season with Inter Miami, there’s still plenty of time until the Olympics, especially considering he also has the Copa América coming up. It is not an easy situation. We have to see if he really has the energy to be there”, Mascherano told Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports. The 2024 Olympic Games will be held between 26 July and 11 August.
“You have to understand that Leo knows age is starting to have an effect and he also has to manage his time. It is not our intention to bother him or put pressure on him. We invited him to play well in advance and we’re giving him whatever he needs so he can think about it and see what options he had with his club. It is not easy for him, for Inter Miami and for MLS, to be absent for a while. He will make a decision when he can,” the former Barcelona midfielder added.
© CHRIS ARJOON (AFP)
With Ángel Di María ruled out and Messi a doubt, Mascherano’s other worry is that he may not be able to call upon players who are based in Europe: “Except for those that are in Argentina, who we know we can call upon, the rest of the clubs are not obliged to let their players ago. In addition, there are a lot of players who are on loan and we don’t know if they’ll have to return to their parent clubs.”Related video: Messi & Suarez DESTROY Orlando, bad for MLS? (Homestand Sports)
Suarez is amazing. Like, I think it's great to see
How many Inter Miami games could Messi miss in the summer?
“Clubs still don’t know what they’ll be doing next season. It’s too early to sit down and discuss it, because right now they can’t give you an answer with any certainty. We are thinking things over and trying to have as many young players on our radar as possible. In the coming months, we will see who we can call upon,” Mascherano concluded.
The 2024 Leagues Cup is due to run from 26 July to 25 August, which means Messi would miss at least the group stage and perhaps the first knockout rounds if he goes away with Argentina.
He is also expected to take part in the 2024 Copa América, which starts on 20 June and finishes on 14 July. Six MLS matchdays are scheduled between those dates, with Messi certain to be absent for at least two at home to Columbus Crew, away to Nashville) during the group stage of the tournament.
