As the season is nearing its end, Manchester United are facing a lot of questions about their next manager. The Red Devils fired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and many expected a big name to take over his place. However, United hired Ralf Rangnick as the interim manager until the end of the season. Rangnick has experienced a run of mixed results, but overall a disappointing stint so far. United are out of every cup competition further extending their trophy-less period to five seasons. It’s almost certain that Rangnick won’t be appointed as the next permanent manager and many names are being linked with the top job. Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone is one such name tipped to take over the manager’s role at Manchester United.
United legend Gary Neville called on for the club’s authorities to appoint Diego Simeone as the next manager.
“Diego Simeone should be a candidate…Fantastic coach, brutal in how he approaches the game, I think in every single way. He’s tough, and Manchester United need a tough manager,”
, said Neville.
While his assessment of Simeone is quite on point but is the Argentinian the right candidate to steer Manchester United back to glory days? We take a look at how the journey would fare.
Simeone the man to revive Manchester United?
Diego Simeone has done a commendable job at Atletico since his appointment. He made Atletico winners from just challengers. Not just the league, Simeone even steered Atletico twice to the Champions League final. Moreover, he won two Europa Leagues and two UEFA Super Cups as well. But would his antiques work at United? He may have taken Atletico to several European finals, but his football just doesn’t go well with what United expects.
No doubt Simeone will end the trophy-less stint of Manchester United, but that won’t be enough. Even Mourinho won silverware with United but wasn’t a fan favorite. Sir Alex Ferguson set the bar for United, and the club has been trying to follow the same philosophy in the process of appointing the new manager.
It’s for sure, Simeone is not of that model which Manchester United are looking for. A winning plan doesn’t excite contemporary football. It demands a mold of technical, medical, analytical, and development qualities. For instance, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have done the same with Manchester City and Liverpool respectively. They have a certain style of football that keeps running through their mind.
Manchester United at the moment are lacking the same, as evident against Atletico. The team didn’t know what to do or how to play, moreover, they failed to respond in a proper manner after going a goal down. But Simeone won’t offer United what Pep has offered to City or Klopp to Liverpool. Simeone could even go down the same path as Mourinho at United. Atletico are to some extent the best fit for Simeone’s style, unlike United who are yearning for exciting football and not just winning.
If not Simeone, then who?
The latest and most exciting to join the potential candidates for the job is Thomas Tuchel. However, Tuchel at United is easier said than done. After Chelsea was put on sale, and all the problems the club faced, rumors started flying that Tuchel could leave too. But the German has pledged his commitment to Chelsea despite links to United.
Mauricio Pochettino is another name heavily linked with United’s manager role. Pochettino does have a certain style, but it has failed at Tottenham, and apparently at PSG as well. United will be taking too much of a bigger gamble with Pochettino at the helm.
Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag is also linked with United. He may have accomplished playing exciting football with Ajax, but it’s Ajax in Eredivisie and not United in Premier League. Ten Hag is inexperienced at the top-level football though his Ajax side has caused upsets to Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League. But Premier League demands a totally different and more competitive approach from the Eredivise. He may also tumble down as Solskjaer after some initial crackers.
While many more are in line as well, recent rumors of Simeone to Manchester United should not impact the club. He may provide a solution for the present, but not sustainability for the future. Manchester United needs more than Simeone and his disciplining at the moment. Mikel Arteta could be the best example of recent times. He may not have worked wonders at Arsenal, but has certainly given them an identity, a way of playing on which the club is building for the future. Manchester United needs a certain style, a mentality, and not just wins going forward.
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