Manchester United are in the hunt for their next manager and finding the right coach has been a struggle for almost a decade since the legend, Sir Alex Ferguson retired in the 2012-2013 season. This search has gained even more coal to the fire now that Manchester United will officially be without a trophy for yet another year, their last being in 2017.
The club has been eliminated from the Champions League in the Round of 16 to Atletico Madrid by an aggregate score of 2-1. They lost at home at Old Trafford in a raucous environment that deserved to host a Champions League Semi-Final. This is very catastrophic news for the club, its owners, fans and the players. Moral is low and the hunt to find the coach to turn things around is heating up.
There have been plenty of links on who will take over the team at the end of the season and early reports are showing that choice has been narrowed down to just two. Mauricio Pochettino (pictured left) and Erik ten Hag (right).
Pochettino is currently the manager for the club Paris Saint Germain, who like United, got bounced out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 when they probably should not have.
Erik ten Hag manages the dutch club Ajax and his club also bowed out in the Round of 16. Sense a theme here?
It appears that these two men are indeed the best available options and interim manager Ralf Rangnick doesn’t seem to be the actual one to manage the club and restore them back to their former glory.
But the big question remains up for debate amongst the United faithful, which manager should be the next to take charge of the club?
Erik ten Hag- Overview
Ten Hag has had previous work in the dutch league and partial overview when he was the manager of Bayern Munich’s reverse side in 2013-2015, when Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, was still with the German club. Ten Hag is young, attacking minded and brings a new, refreshed look and style of play.
Ajax has been top of the Dutch league for some time under Ten Hag and most notably, reached the Champions League Semi-Finals in 2018. His style of play in a 4-3-3 formation can suit the type of personnel that United has. Ten Hag knows how to score while keeping the goals against, very low. This is impressive in his short coaching tenure and he is considered to be one of the brightest young minds.
Some skeptics believe that his lack of experience as a head manager at a big club can be a problem at United. Ten Hag doesn’t speak english fluently and he also isn’t the typical man that a team like United would go for. However, that typical man hasn’t been one to work out as managers have come on gone like fashion seasons for the last decade here.
Mauricio Pochettino- Overview
Pochettino appears to not only be the “safe” choice but the right choice. Taking Tottenham Spurs to the Champions League Final was his biggest accomplishment considered by many. “Poch” as many call him is familiar with English Football.
The thing about Pochettino is he also knows how to handle the English press, media and the demand of a big time club. This is what favors him alongside Ten Hag who isn’t as suitable for this criteria. However, Pochettino has struggled immensely during his time in Paris.
PSG have 3 of the biggest stars in all of football: Messi, Neymar and Mbappé. Yet, coaching is more about cohesiveness and being in charge of many egos. Perhaps one too many in Paris has caused for this failure, but nonetheless he should have made it out of the Round of 16.
The Argentine can have diverse tactics, from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1. His playing style also suits the “United” way and he is a veteran. But the lack of sheer metal in terms of stocking up the trophy case is where people start to disagree with his appointment.
Who United Should Appoint
It is truly in my opinion, the best situation for a coaching change that United has had in the “post-Ferguson” era. So who should it be, Pochettino or Ten Hag?
The right choice should be Ten Hag. Erik Ten Hag is begging for a chance at the main stage, he is studying the game at a very high level and has developed Ajax at being a regular in European football.
Ten Hag’s young finesse could allow the United team to experiment with it’s play style and be a fresh start to the team’s mindset and development. Ten Hag has things he needs to prove, but his football knowledge and tactics are not some of them.
The important thing for Ten Hag to know is of course English and how the club of United is ran. The Glazers have not owned the club the right way and have not pointed the team in the right direction. Ten Hag has to demand his budget and specific players so that he is in charge of the dressing room.
Either coach is not a bad thing, but Ten Hag is worth the risk and something that this club needs.
The Beat @APU 