Club’s preferred candidate has a stellar reputation but rebuilding incoherent squad and culture at Old Trafford is an almighty task
gazumping Manchester City to sign a 30-something Portuguese and it turning into an expensive farrago. The Sporting manager, Rúben Amorim, had been heavily touted to join City next summer should Pep Guardiola decide to stand down, particularly after the club’s director of football, Hugo Viana, was named as the successor to Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad Stadium.
Which does raise the very obvious question of what on earth he is going to do with this United. Ten Hag, too, arrived with a reputation for pressing high, before being forced into a major rethink after his first two games brought defeats. The message was clear: you cannot press with Ronaldo, and you cannot play a high line with David de Gea.
But while United have plenty of players who could operate either side of the centre-forward, attacking in the diagonal – and it’s possible to imagine Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo or Alejandro Garnacho thriving in that role – they have nobody who looks a natural wing-back. Nor, in that system, is there an obvious place for Bruno Fernandes.
And that is the problem for whoever comes in. This is a squad that has been assembled expensively to no great effect. Which bits are meant to go together? What is the underlying philosophy? That’s where the decision to extend Ten Hag’s contract seems so costly; it’s not just his salary or the payoff he has been granted, but the £200m outlay on players this summer, presumably to suit whatever system Ten Hag thought he might be imposing.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
West Ham United vs Manchester United - Premier League Round 9, 2024Follow Premier League live with instant updates on the match between West Ham United and Manchester United. See all the live stats, team line ups, betting odds, fantasy & match updates here.
Read more »
Ten Hag dismissed: Man Utd sack manager after club’s 35-year Premier League worstFootball: West Ham United defeated Manchester United after a controversial VAR-awarded penalty goal.
Read more »
‘Awful’ signings, no ‘identity’ ... and how Ange was architect of sacked Utd boss’ final humiliationFootball: West Ham United defeated Manchester United after a controversial VAR-awarded penalty goal.
Read more »
Erik ten Hag insists he still has backing of Manchester United ownersErik ten Hag said he is on the same page as the Manchester United hierarchy and has received no indication from the owners that he does not retain their support
Read more »
Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United board ‘not happy’ with team’s resultsErik ten Hag admitted Manchester United’s board is “not happy” with a start which has left his side in 14th place, and with only three wins in 10 games
Read more »
After dismal home displays, how secure is Erik ten Hag at Manchester United?Outcome of games against Porto and Aston Villa may settle things for United’s board despite desire to show faith
Read more »