Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Premier League midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has offered his perspective on some of the leading names being discussed to be the next Man Utd manager but believes former player Michael Carrick is the standout candidate among a start studded shortlist.
The piece concludes with Mendieta's assessment of the clubs forgotten stars including if Rashford could return to the club and if whether Mainoo could follow his former teammate to the Camp Nou.
Next Man Utd Manager Contenders
Xavi
Xavi
Xavi would definitely understand what a club like Manchester United needs in terms of history and how the fans demand trophies. I think that’s probably in line with Barca when he joined them. Knowing Xavi, I think what would be a priority, though, is the project. It’s a huge club, but he will need to see something that makes him really want to do it.
It's something that he needs to be excited about. He wouldn’t join just because it’s United, but because there's a project behind it. It needs to be a project that aligns with his idea of the football that he wants to put in place.
He would not go just for the sake of being Man Utd manager; he would need to be given the tools he needs to play his type of football.
Could Xavi Bring Silverware?
From the outside, it looks like there is no real direction for how the club wants to play or what style. They have fantastic players, but there's no clear identity of what they want to do or how they want to do it.
This is probably because they have had so many managers throughout the years, and also because of the owners' idea in terms of how they want to be as a club. I have not perceived that, and I think that is more important than anything else. Then, obviously, you get a manager and align with that, or get the manager and then align with the existing ideas.
When you have had so many managers, it’s hard to have a clear direction.
Would Xavi Bring Silverware To Manchester United?
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane to Man Utd? I think any coach who has coached great teams, big teams. They need to see something more than the name.
They need to be at a big club, which Man Utd are, but be able to feel reassured that the club is in a position to win trophies.
Just having the name wouldn’t be enough to tempt Zidane; he would want a solid platform for the next stage in his career. If he is the next France manager, then just look at the squad he could pick from. The probability of winning something with France would be high, so it would have to be a really special offer from Man Utd to tempt him.
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola
Could Pep Guardiola save Man Utd? We’d never see him there, that's for sure.
Even if he didn’t have the connection to Man City, Man Utd don’t align with his way of understanding football.
Would Pep Guardiola Be A Success At Manchester United?
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate
The last time I spoke to Gareth Southgate was a while ago, but it was after the England job, and he said he wanted some time off, which he looks like he's enjoying.
To go back into football, Man Utd is certainly a very tempting idea. I think he would want an understanding of what the club wants. Does it want that type of manager where you need a bit of a long-term project to really have an impact, or does it want a younger type of manager with a faster or imminent impact in the team, which I guess most clubs are looking for nowadays?
We don't see many clubs giving managers, 'I'll give you a season or two, let's see how it goes.' Clubs really want immediate impact, and so that might be the profile of a manager we see at Man Utd. If the club wants a long-term manager, Gareth Southgate would be a good match.
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick came into my mind when Man Utd changed their manager. He knows the club perfectly, and he’d make a lot of sense in the role. Understanding a club and the owners seems to be the most important thing for managers in the game at the moment, maybe even more than winning games and trophies at times.
Owners and directors used to work to support managers, but now they want to be more hands-on. Carrick will know what they want, so they would work in his favour. I think, as it stands, he is one of the best candidates to take over.
Transfer Talk
Could Rashford Return?
Marcus Rashford is very happy at Barcelona. He has 13 starts, which is a lot; he has been playing alongside Fermin Lopez, and his future is a big talking point.
I could see him staying at Barca, that's something that could be agreed on. And I think him going back to Manchester United would depend on the manager and the style they want to play. What I'm sure about, I think he's put himself back in a place where he's wanted by clubs. I think his move to Barcelona was a way to put himself out there.
He didn't fade away. I think he settled quickly and showed people what he's capable of. In that sense, he would be able to go back to United if the new manager thought he was a fit for his style and the system that he would play. He will also be thinking about the England squad, and judging by his performances this season, he deserves to be in that squad, and I’d also say he deserves to be in the starting XI.
Will Rashford Play For Manchester United Again?
Mainoo To Barcelona?
Could Kobbie Mainoo go abroad and be a success? We’ve seen it happen. Players can go abroad, and it motivates them to be successful. Mainoo is an exciting young player, and I think La Liga would really suit him.
He might well have been in contact with Marcus Rashford also, who knows if they could play together again, as a football fan, I would be excited to see Mainoo in Spain.
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