Manchester United have been making all the right noises off the pitch since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over a stake in the club. The Red Devils have poached Omar Berrada as their new CEO from Manchester City and are now set for an overhaul of the squad in the coming transfer windows.
The club is also set to undergo a massive overhaul in the coming transfer windows with Ratcliffe set to invest a substantial amount of money in the squad. But before that investment is made, it would be wise for United to appoint a new manager at the club.
Following a promising first season in charge, Erik Ten Hag has failed to impose his philosophy on the team and the squad has lacked an identity under him. More importantly, some of his signings like Antony and Mason Mount have also proved to be disastrous. For instance, Antony has zero goal contributions so far this season despite featuring in 17 Premier League games. Meanwhile, Mount has missed the majority of this season through injury.
United have long needed a director of football operations at the club and that is a void that will finally be filled with the arrival of Ratcliffe. The newly-appointed director of football operations will ensure that United have a sense of purpose and direction in the transfer window.
But before investing in new talent, United must find the right man to replace Ten Hag in the dugout. United needs an established manager with a well-defined style of play who can impose their footballing philosophy on the club right from the get-go.
At this moment in time, two such managers are available on the market: Zinedine Zidane and Jose Mourinho. While a reunion with Jose Mourinho might be unlikely, the Portuguese manager was the last one to guide United to a major trophy back in 2017. Though the appointment of Mourinho might bring instant success, it is bound to take a toll on the team in the long run.
Zidane, on the other hand, might just be the perfect long-term solution to United’s managerial problems. The Frenchman is one of the greatest players to ever play the game and one of the few players who has succeeded as both a player and a manager. His record of winning three straight Champions Leagues with Real Madrid speaks volumes of his ability to succeed at the highest level.
The possible appointment of Zidane also ensures an attractive brand of football which is a non-negotiable for the United faithful. But perhaps the biggest thing that Zidane would bring to the table at Old Trafford is the winning mentality that has eluded United since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
If Sir Jim Ratcliffe and United are serious about overhauling things at United this year, it has to begin with the appointment of a new manager. Anything else would just be a superficial eye wash.
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