Paul Merson feels Oliver Glasner is not the right fit for Manchester United
Manchester United continue to face questions about the future of Ruben Amorim. Speculations about his replacements are not stopping. Among those linked is Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, though Paul Merson warned it would be a mistake for United to make such a move.
Merson praised Glasner’s steady character and said he has shaped Palace into a side where every player knows their role. He pointed out that Palace have the right squad to play three at the back, a system Glasner has relied on with success. Yet he questioned whether the same would work at Manchester United, highlighting Amorim’s own struggles with that formation at the club.
In his words, United’s squad simply does not suit such a tactical structure. Glasner, whose contract at Selhurst Park runs until the end of the season, has voiced frustration over the lack of transfer business at Palace. Despite this, Merson said his appointment at United would bring more risk than reward.
“He’s a brilliant manager. He doesn’t get too up and doesn’t get too down. It’s very impressive. He’s put a team together, and they are all very comfortable in their positions. Everyone knows their job in the team. He has the players for the system, and that’s huge. Let’s say Ruben Amorim was the manager at Palace now, he’d have a half chance of being a success. Palace have the players to play three at the back.
“They have the attributes in their squad to play in that system. For me, that’s why I’d be concerned about Glasner going to Man Utd. He’s a three-at-the-back man, and it is being proven that it is a system that just doesn’t fit the players at Man Utd. Glasner is not a good fit for Man Utd. Of course, I’m sure he’d be adaptable, and he’s proven with how he handles the players, but the system he uses is just all wrong for United. Amorim can tell you that.”
Quote via: Metro
The Pros and Cons of Appointing Glasner
The debate over Glasner’s suitability for Manchester United carries weight. On the one hand, his record at Crystal Palace is impressive. He led them to FA Cup glory in 2025 and orchestrated an 18-game unbeaten run that included a famous victory over Liverpool. The 51-year-old’s tactical adaptability and ability to get the best out of players, even after key departures, earned him praise. He is also familiar with the Premier League, which adds to his appeal.
Yet there are certain doubts. Glasner has never managed a club as big as United, and the pressure at Old Trafford is on another level. The Austrian manager’s system, while effective at Palace, might not align with United’s current squad or their supporters’ appetite for bold, attacking football. Compared to Amorim, he is more flexible tactically, but he relies on pragmatism, lower possession, and counterattacks.
By contrast, Amorim sticks to an aggressive pressing style with higher possession attempts, even when results have faltered. Glasner has proven himself capable of winning silverware, while Amorim’s successes have largely come in Portugal. The comparison highlights a key difference: Glasner thrives on flexibility, while Amorim sticks to his preferred model.
United’s leadership will compare these contrasts carefully. Their recent moves, such as signing teenage prodigy Cristian Orozco and exploring a January move for Emiliano Martinez, show they want both immediate solutions and long-term planning. Whether Glasner fits into that balance remains open to debate.