Manchester United’s next move will be to decide on a permanent appointment after Michael Carrick takes over as caretaker manager, with one candidate reportedly already in talks.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand knows who he would like to see as the club’s manager next (Image: Rio Ferdinand Presents)
Rio Ferdinand wants Manchester United to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their next permanent manager after reports the former Brighton manager held secret talks with the Premier League giants.
Ferdinand’s former teammate Michael Carrick was appointed interim manager on Tuesday and will remain in charge for the remainder of the season. But the 2008 Champions League winner faces a huge task in convincing the board that he is the man to stay for the long term.
Instead, Ferdinand believes De Zerbi is the right fit to replace Ruben Amorim permanently. De Zerbi reportedly rejected offers from United before accepting his current job at Marseille, but believes Old Trafford icon Ferdinand is still well suited.
“Right now he’s a free person. He’s not free, but he’s obtainable,” he told Rio Ferdinand Presents while discussing the possibility of a permanent appointment.
“De Zerbi because Tuchel would also be one of my biggest candidates, more than a player like[Thomas]Tuchel. I’ll say it: he’s the right coach to let the players work and play, regardless of the formation he wants to play in.”
read more: Michael Carrick has already rejected the controversial approach taken by Ruben Amorim at Man Unitedread more: Michael Carrick says ‘unbelievable’ comments in first interview as interim manager of Man United
Co-host Joel Beja intervened, opining that United “don’t want that” and suggesting De Zerbi would “flip his wig” after seeing United’s problems. For years, rumors have escalated over behind-the-scenes issues at Old Trafford, from the dilapidated training facilities to the need to renovate the stadium, not to mention the internal politics surrounding the board.
De Zerbi, 46, has reportedly had several clashes with Marseille’s decision-makers. In April last year, there was speculation that the Italian had expressed dissatisfaction with the club’s transfer ambitions and threatened to leave if a certain level of commitment was not shown to secure reinforcements.
He also handed down the hammer, banning Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Lowe from the club following a training ground incident last summer. This comes in addition to a video of Ismael Kone accusing De Zerbi of indiscipline and telling him to “call his agent” shortly before he was loaned to De Zerbi’s former club Sassuolo.
“I’m telling you, I’d light the party on fire,” Ferdinand continued. “I’m going to bring the fire…I’m not going to bring the madness, but I’m going to bring someone who’s going to bring that fire, that passion.
Manager Ferdinand tipped Roberto De Zerbi to take the United job after reportedly holding talks in the past (Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
“But in reality, they are supported by someone who has proven that they can coach the life of a team. They can coach inside a team to the hilt. They can coach individuals, improve players and really change the way football is played. I really believe that you need someone who is strong in their own identity.”
De Zerbi’s Marseille were on course to challenge for the Ligue 1 title earlier this season, backed by a particularly dreadful home record. However, Les Olympians have only won one of their last four league games and have fallen to third place, eight points behind the leaders.
It may please many United supporters to learn that De Zerbi is primarily promoting the back-four system that many at Old Trafford had hoped for post-Amorim. But the fiery attitude that Ferdinand wants and that De Zerbi will inevitably bring may not be the solution United’s board are looking for.
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