Thomas Frank, Gareth Southgate and Roberto De Zerbi are considered suitable candidates to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. This assessment comes in response to the Red Devils’ performance under the leadership of the Dutch tactician. Reporting from ESPN, currently several clubs are targeting Roberto De Zerbi, such as Liverpool and Barcelona, which are certain to experience a vacant coaching position at the end of the 2023-2024 season. On the other hand, Frank’s success in building a high-energy team at Brentford while embracing the London club’s data-driven approach to player recruitment has impressed his fans at Old Trafford. As for Southgate, he is still on the outside radar. This 53 year old coach is also still uncertain about his future after Euro 2024 with England.
It is known that Ten Hag is pursuing the target of breaking into the Champions League zone next season. Manchester United is currently in sixth place in the 2023-2024 Premier League standings with 44 points from 27 matches, 11 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth place, which is the last zone to enter the Champions League. This is regardless of the calculation of the new 2024-2025 Champions League format.
In the 2023-2024 Champions League, Manchester United was eliminated early in the group stage. Ten Hag’s squad is in the bottom position of Group A by collecting 4 points from the 6 matches played. Apart from Champions League, the spotlight is on Man United’s performance in the Premier League this season. They are still unable to compete with old rivals, namely, Liverpool and Manchester City in the race for league champions. Both are at the top of the standings with a difference of one point, Liverpool is ranked first (63 points) and Manchester City is second (62).
The lack of performance in the Red Devils squad was allegedly due to the fact that many players were continuously injured. However, the spotlight also came to Ten Hag, who was deemed not to have a definite and clear style of play. Criticism came subjectively from Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, when Man United lost 1-2 to Fulham on Saturday (24/2/2024). “Another big problem for them is when they control the ball. Some people say there is no pattern of play with Manchester United,” said Carragher. “What is their philosophy?” said Carragher. Not only Carragher, the Manchester United legend also criticized Ten Hag’s game. “Man United don’t have a style of play at the moment where wherever you go, that’s who they are,” he said. Ten Hag still has a 3 year contract agreement since he joined in June 2022.
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