Journalist Duncan Castles has been speaking on The Transfer Window podcast about the managerial situation at Manchester United and where Zinedine Zidane currently stands.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been experiencing a tough time at Manchester United having already lost six times this season, including defeats at the hands of Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Young Boys. But despite all of this, it appears that the Norwegian has the backing of the board.
Should Zidane replace Solskjaer?
Yes!
No!
While the manager appears to be receiving the backing from the people that matter at Man United, The Times is reporting that former Real Madrid manager Zidane could replace Solskjaer in the dugout if he is relieved of his duties, though according to Castles, there would still be one big hurdle to overcome if he was to be offered the job.
Castles has revealed what could potentially stop Zidane from taking the Man United job if he was offered it.
“Where does Zidane stand on this? Well, the guidance I’ve had from a second source – a friend of Zidane – this week, is that he is interested. Having had these entreaties made to him, he is looking at the prospect of taking Manchester United [as] something that intrigues him.
“He has not definitively decided, ‘I am not going to do this’ in the way that’s been described a few weeks ago, it is a, I’m told, ‘live’ consideration for him.
“However, the main complication I’m being told about is that his wife, Veronique, is against the move, that she does not want to move to Manchester, does not want to move to England, and obviously, [that is] a very important relationship and a person who I’m told whose advice is extremely important to Zidane. So that is going to be a hurdle that will have to be overcome if United are to get Zidane.”
TIF Thoughts on Zidane potentially joining Man United…
There is no denying that Zidane has a huge reputation in the game from his playing days as well as from what he achieved as manager at Real Madrid, which included three Champions League titles in a row.
However, that is the only club he has managed, so branching out into a different league and club would be a huge risk – especially joining Man United, who have famously spent a lot of money over the years but have very little to show for it. So he would certainly have a task on his hands to drill a winning mentality into the squad.
Something that would help him if he was to replace Solskjaer at Old Trafford is that he would likely have the respect and help of two players he used to manage in Madrid in the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo and summer signing Raphael Varane, so being able to work with those players once more could potentially persuade him to jump at the chance, although it would seem to do very little to convince his wife.
In other news: ‘He looks so annoyed’ – Insider drops ‘massive worry’ over Man United star