Reports have surfaced on the eve of this weekend’s FA Cup final, indicating that Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, will be fired, come what may at Wembley.
Ten Hag and his players have had a difficult season. Following a patchy Premier League campaign, they came in eighth place, behind Aston Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Tottenham.
The team reached a new low in Europe as well, placing last in their Champions League group with four points out of a potential eighteen. Actually, in the top European competition, it was United’s worst-ever campaign.
For Ten Hag, it looks like the writing is on the wall now. An FA Cup victory over Manchester City on Saturday, according to a story from The Guardian, would not keep the Dutchman from losing his job.
If Ten Hag is fired, then who will Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his group choose to appoint?
According to the aforementioned source, United has listed Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Thomas Tuchel as possible Ten Hag replacements.
Although England manager Gareth Southgate has also been mentioned in recent weeks, we will rate the following five candidates according to their qualifications and eligibility for the position, moving from best to worst.
Graham Potter
After a great tenure at Brighton, Graham Potter was considered one of the nation’s smartest managers for a while. However, a difficult tenure at Chelsea has damaged that reputation a little.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Dan Ashworth, United’s new sporting director, are two of the 49-year-old’s biggest admirers. Ashworth is said to have had “secret talks” with Potter earlier this season. Potter recently turned down a move to Ajax.
There will be doubts about his ability to manage the egos in that United dressing room. Is his personality strong enough to withstand such pressure? We’re not entirely certain.
Thomas Tuchel
According to The Guardian, Tuchel is the most likely choice to take Erik ten Hag’s place should he depart United this summer.
The 50-year-old’s demeanour and resume have impressed those working behind the scenes at United. He left Bayern Munich at the end of the season. In addition, he is an “accomplished tactician” with previous club experience.
Tuchel has demonstrated, in contrast to some of the aforementioned, that he has the temperament to deal with major characters in the locker room—something that is vitally important at Old Trafford.
Mauricio Pocchetino
While some may contend that Pochettino’s reputation has suffered during a less-than-ideal stint at Chelsea, others may concur that the season’s positive conclusion prematurely ended his time at Stamford Bridge.
The decision between Pochettino and Tuchel was difficult. However, in a time of so much upheaval, the latter’s exceptional man-management abilities are just what some players at United need.
In the top division of England, he has an abundance of expertise as well. In 2019, he achieved great success with Spurs, leading them to the Champions League final. The man most suited for the job? We believe that.
Thomas Frank
The Telegraph claims that if United decides to fire Ten Hag following this weekend’s FA Cup final, Thomas Frank is a “strong contender” for the position.
The Dane’s foundation would be essential if he were to make the big move from Brentford to United since he has a relationship with Sir Dave Brailsford, head of sport at INEOS, who oversees all football operations at Old Trafford.
But like with the aforementioned Potter, doubts about Frank’s ancestry will inevitably surface. He hasn’t been put to the test with the best, but at Brentford, he really has potential. a perilous one.
Kieran McKenna
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United representatives have already spoken with representatives of Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna. However, Chelsea will be a fierce rival in their pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement.
McKenna’s agents discussed the possibility of his taking up first-team responsibilities with Omar Berrada, United’s chief executive, and Jason Wilcox, the technical director.
Any United supporter should be impressed by Ipswich’s back-to-back promotions under the 38-year-old, as he has an advantage over other candidates due to his prior Old Trafford experience under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Another youthful contender, but his possession-based system will be appreciated.
