Roberto De Zerbi is in line to replace Erik ten Hag at Man United
As per a Manchester Evening News report, according to journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Manchester United are considering replacing Erik ten Hag with Roberto De Zerbi ahead of next season.
The new INEOS sporting ownership of Man United are currently in the process of evaluating Ten Hag’s second season at Old Trafford and are expected to make their final verdict public in a few days’ time.
De Zerbi, on the other hand, has recently become a free agent after parting ways with Brighton at the end of the season, having reportedly fallen out with the club’s owner-chairman, Tony Bloom.
Both managers have failed to live up to the promise they showed in their debut season with their respective clubs.
Brighton finished a measly 11th in the Premier League this time round in comparison to last year’s sixth-place finish, having also being knocked out in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League.
United, on the other hand, finished eighth in the league this season as compared to third last time round, though they did manage to end the season by lifting the FA Cup, Ten Hag having thus delivered the club two trophies in two years.
De Zerbi just won’t work at Old Trafford
The reason De Zerbi fell out with Bloom at Brighton was because he wanted more control over operations pertaining to on-pitch matters, and the club wouldn’t allow for that. After all, why should they ditch the very setup that has brought them such success despite limited means?
De Zerbi is a coach known for playing exciting football and improving average players to make the collective strong beyond imagination. But he is also a very dogmatic coach.
Let’s not forget that this is a man who proudly declared after the 2021 Champions League final that he’d rather lose the game alongside Pep Guardiola than win it with Thomas Tuchel.
Such idealism is refreshing, but not prudent, especially when you think of the heights United aim to achieve going forward. In order to win, you need to let pragmatism dictate your plan every once in a while.
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United are themselves looking for a footballing overhaul and would find it hard working with a manager who wants a bit too much control in the long term. And so, they are better off not pursuing De Zerbi.
