After a quiet January transfer window in which the focus was on trimming the squad rather than adding new players, the Manchester United hierarchy’s attention will now turn to their manager search, with three names repeatedly being reported as frontrunners for the job.
On the pitch, Ralf Rangnick has managed to successfully steady the ship and keep United in the hunt for a top four finish in the league to secure Champions League football for next year. United are favourites for a top four spot, ahead of Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham, according to the experts at oddschecker, who offer expert tips and analysis, as well as listing the many pages offering free bets that can be used to back United.
Rangnick’s progress has also seen him linked with the permanent job alongside Mauricio Pochettino, Diego Simeone and Luis Enrique.
New manager priorities
Whoever United hire as their next manager will certainly have his work cut out with the club in a state of limbo both on and off the pitch.
Interim manager Ralph Rangnick has managed to arrest the slide that led to the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the team are currently one of up to four teams in with a chance of qualifying for next year’s Champions League, and fans will be hoping that United’s stature, experience, and striking power will fire them to the finish line.
However, concerns are growing over the continued lack of cohesion in performances, one of the problems that plagued Solskjær’s reign.
Dressing room harmony is another issue that the next manager must address. Fans, commentators, former players and pundits have all noted United’s poor shape in both defence and attack, which has been undermining performances, even in matches that they’ve won with the team’s firepower papering over the cracks. Reports have surfaced recently of a player revolt against Ralf Rangnick, which stems from his treatment of certain players.
This isn’t a new problem for the club with previous managers David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho all believed to have struggled with this, so it’ll be interesting to see how the next manager deals with it.
It will also be something for Rangnick himself to consider in next season’s consultancy role. He will be expected to define standards of behaviour and culture that many believe have been lost since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Mauricio Pochettino
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with the United job for at least five years, as many believe his entertaining, high-energy style of football is perfect for Old Trafford.
Although PSG are flying high at the top of Ligue 1 and in the Champions League round of 16, the manager’s position is never really secure due to the high standards set by the club’s Qatari ownership.
They are desperate for PSG to win their first ever Champions League trophy, especially after coming so close two years ago, so Pochettino’s future will likely depend on how far they get in the competition.
Diego Simeone
After 11 exceptional years at Atlético Madrid, some observers feel it’s time for Diego Simeone to take on a new challenge. He has taken the club to previously unimaginable heights, competing for league titles with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, winning two Europa Leagues and reaching two Champions League finals.
He has performed miracles on a shoestring budget, even while consistently losing some of his best players, who richer clubs often snap up. He deserves a budget that would allow him to compete for some of the world’s best players. Something United can certainly provide.
Luis Enrique
Although Luis Enrique is performing admirably as manager of the Spanish national team, his often-explosive character appears perfect for club management.
After years of drift, he has stabilised a young Spain squad, which has added to his impressive managerial CV that includes A treble win with FC Barcelona in 2015.
At the Catalan club, he proved his ability to manage star names with big egos while playing an entertaining brand of football, making him perfect for the Red Devils.
