Manchester United considering alternatives to Erik ten Hag as pressure mounts

Manchester United’s hierarchy are now actively considering alternatives to Erik ten Hag, according to reports. Ten Hag is under even more pressure after United delivered another dismal performance at Old Trafford on Wednesday as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup following a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle. United were also convincingly beaten by Manchester City in Sunday’s derby as Pep Guardiola’s side also ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag insists he is ‘a fighter’ and has vowed to improve United’s situation which he described after the Newcastle defeat as ‘not good enough by far’. But according to The Times, United are now considering replacing Ten Hag with a senior source at the club saying that the Dutchman is now ‘at risk’ of being sacked.

Zinedine Zidane and Ruben Amorim linked with Manchester United job

The report claims that Sporting head coach, Ruben Amorim, and Zinedine Zidane are two candidates United are currently considering. Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in May 2021 and speaking last year, the World Cup winner suggested that he would not take the United job due to his lack of fluency with the English language.

‘If I go to a club, it’s to win, Zidane told L’Equipe. ‘I say this in all modesty. That’s why I can’t go anywhere. For other reasons, too, I might not be able to go everywhere. Which ones? The language, for example. Certain conditions make things more difficult.

‘When people say to me: ‘Do you want to go to Manchester?’ I understand English but I don’t fully master it.

‘I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently. To win, many elements come into play. It’s a global context. Me, I know what I need to win.’

Ruben Amorim’s success at Sporting

Amorim, meanwhile, won the Portuguese league and cup double in his first season with Sporting. The 38-year-old was on Chelsea’s shortlist earlier this year before the west London club appointed Mauricio Pochettino.

But Amorim made it clear that he is happy to stay at Sporting unless he is forced out.

‘The main factor is because I really like being here. And then, I’ve seen many coaches move to other leagues and not be happier,’ Amorim said in April.

‘It sounds a bit cliche, but I think it’s an important factor in the decision [to be happy]. And I’m not looking for anything.

‘And by the way, I want to value what I have and not what is said. And it’s been said so many times… I’ve already said it, I’ve had contacts with other clubs, Sporting even knows, but I always wanted to stay because I like being at Sporting.

‘If I ever have to leave here, either because I was pushed out with white handkerchiefs, or because I went to another club, it will happen.

‘But being here doing my part, I won’t be opening the door and leaving it ajar, because I think Sporting deserves another respect.

‘If I have to go, I will. If I ever want to go, I’ll tell the president and Hugo Viana, and I’ll go.

‘Right now, I want to stay here, I want to fulfill my contract and I have very clear objectives for what I want to do.’

Conclusion

Manchester United are now actively considering alternatives to Erik ten Hag as pressure mounts on the Dutchman following a string of poor performances. Zinedine Zidane and Ruben Amorim are two names being linked with the job but both have their own reasons why they may not be