There have been several rumors regarding Erik ten Hag probably being replaced at Manchester United. However, nothing concrete has officially come out from the club’s hierarchy. But, as things could change really quickly in the game of soccer, here we look at the five potential candidates who could replace the Dutch manager at the Red Devils.
The management at Manchester United would look at current Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi as someone they could invest in if things go west with ten Hag. The Italian manager has completely changed the landscape of a club like Brighton. The Seagulls used to be a club that fought hard every season to survive in the Premier League.
However, now with the arrival of De Zerbi, they are constantly up there in the top half of the table. Brighton is proving to be a tough side to beat even for some of the bigger teams like Manchester City and Liverpool. Another manager who could be sworn in as a replacement for Erik ten Hag is Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso.
Just like what Roberto De Zerbi did with Brighton, the same magic has been worked upon by Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. The club currently sits at the top of the Bundesliga table. They have won 11 out of their first 13 matches this season. Xabi Alonso’s tactical understanding of the game has also impressed several soccer pundits.
Chelsea’s former manager Graham Potter might also get a shout for United’s managerial position. The English manager impressed in his time with Brighton and was then elected as Chelsea’s manager. However, things didn’t quite work out for him there. But, he is still considered one of the most talented managers going around.
Zinedine Zidane is also out of job after exiting from his managerial role at Real Madrid. The veteran manager has all the pedigree and experience when it comes to managing on the big stages. He could be a game-changing appointment for the Red Devils.
Former Sevilla FC manager Julen Lopetegui is also out of work. The UEFA Europa League-winning manager left his managerial job at Wolves via mutual consent. However, in his short tenure at Wolves, he did prove that he has what it takes to manage a Premier League club. It won’t be a surprise if he is on the shortlist of Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag on the information served via journalists regarding him and Manchester United players
The United manager was asked about the rumored reports of him not being commanded respect in the dressing room by his players. The manager unhesitatingly expressed his opinion regarding the situation in his pre-match conference before the Chelsea match.
The 53-year-old stated – “They (the journalists) should come to us first and not go around in our back printing articles”. The manager further stated that it was “not the right thing” to do. He further asserted that the reporters could maybe give such kind of information to the club “beforehand” rather than directly unleashing them.
He also stated that the club is open to having a “professional discussion or debate” regarding such reports. It can be inferred from the thoughts of the Dutch manager that he isn’t too pleased with the narrative that has been surfacing in the media regarding his status in the United’s dressing room. However, it was a bold move by the manager to openly talk about it in his pre-match conference.