Manchester United are reportedly on the lookout for a new manager with Ruben Amorim expected to get sacked if results does not favor the Premier League side in the next few games.
Amorim have struggled since replacing Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford last November, and there are reports he could be sacked if United fail to win this weekend against Sunderland. Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Brentford leave United 14th on the table with just seven points from the opening six matches.
The Portuguese tactician has failed to oversee back-to-back league wins since he took over the United reins last November and fans are surprised he’s yet to be relieved of his duties.
With Amorim still on the hot seat, United have been told to avoid Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner as a potential successor for the former Sporting Lisbon manager.
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes that Glasner would not be a good fit for United.
“What a job he’s done there – it’s unbelievable really,” Merson opened on his Sky Sports column. “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 manager at Palace now, he’d had have a 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.”
Merson continued that Glasner would struggle to turn United down if they did come calling, adding: “There’s no rush for Glasner. I think he’s alright where he is, at the moment. However, he will have a problem if Man Utd come calling. It’s been proven over the years that people can’t turn down United. Even though what is going on at the club is not great, the name is still one of the biggest clubs in the world. How do you turn that down? You don’t.
“How many times does the Man Utd job come along in a lifetime? Just ask Ruben Amorim. He wanted to wait to join in the summer but moved straight away because you might not get the chance again. Any manager going to United would know they have their work cut out, but they would still not turn down the opportunity. It might never come again.”
Glasner is not the only manager linked with Man United, Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola and former England boss Gareth Southgate are among those who reportedly feature on United’s three-man shortlist.
The Cherries would be reluctant to lose Iraola at this stage of the season, while Southgate has been out of work since his Three Lions exit following their Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. Ex-Barcelona boss Xavi is also supposedly ‘tempted’ by a return to management with this out-of-form United side.
