“If They Ever Want to Win the League, They Should Get Rid of Erik ten Hag and Bring Him In”: Pep Guardiola Thinks This Man Would Be the Perfect Manager for Manchester United if They Ever Want to Win the League 🏆
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have publicly voiced their appreciation for Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi, despite Manchester United’s interest in him.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United is interested in signing De Zerbi as Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford remains unknown.
United’s 10th Premier League defeat this season, a 2-1 loss to Fulham, leaves them eight points behind the top four.
The club’s owners, Ineos, have been looking at potential replacements for Ten Hag. De Zerbi, 44, has impressed since taking over at Brighton in September 2022, replacing Graham Potter.
Under his leadership, Brighton reached the FA Cup semi-finals last season and finished sixth in the Premier League, gaining Europa League qualification.
They also won their Europa League group and will meet Roma in the last 16 next month.
De Zerbi’s success at Brighton, along with their appealing style of play, has sparked international admiration. Despite initial fears following Potter’s departure, De Zerbi has taken Brighton to new heights, receiving praise from neutrals.
His achievements have fuelled curiosity about his future, with links to managerial positions at Liverpool and Manchester City after Guardiola leaves.
Guardiola and Klopp have both lauded De Zerbi’s impact on English football, with Guardiola praising his distinct playing style and Klopp expressing admiration for his achievements.
While De Zerbi’s appointment as Klopp’s replacement is uncertain, United’s interest highlights his management abilities.
Given United’s ambitions to compete with City and Liverpool, employing De Zerbi may be a huge coup, given his demonstrated ability to impose a distinct philosophy and style of play.
Although United’s pursuit of De Zerbi is not definite, it underlines Ratcliffe’s desire to transform the club’s structure and culture. De Zerbi’s performance at Brighton demonstrates that he can thrive in the appropriate atmosphere, which aligns with Ratcliffe’s vision for United’s future.
As such, while De Zerbi’s probable move to United is still hypothetical, it demonstrates the club’s resolve to compete at the highest level under new ownership.
