May 11th 2024.
Former Manchester United player Gary Neville has weighed in on the speculation surrounding the club's next manager, ruling out current England boss Gareth Southgate as a potential replacement for the under-fire Erik ten Hag. The pressure is mounting on Ten Hag, who is expected to be sacked after a disappointing season for the Premier League club.
Despite finishing third and winning the League Cup last year, United's progress has slowed down in the 2023-24 season, with the team currently sitting in eighth place with only three games left to play. The Red Devils will also be facing Manchester City in the FA Cup final, but after a crushing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday, confidence is at an all-time low.
As Ten Hag fights to keep his job at Old Trafford, reports have emerged that the club has a shortlist of potential replacements and has shown interest in Southgate. The 53-year-old is set to leave his role with the Three Lions after the upcoming Euros and has been open to the possibility of managing United, although he has remained tight-lipped about the speculation.
However, according to Neville, this is a move that simply "cannot happen." He believes that United cannot afford to wait until mid-July, when pre-season has already started, to make an announcement about their new manager. It would make the club look like they don't know what they're doing. Additionally, Southgate is unlikely to announce his departure from England before a major tournament, as it would create "turbulence" and be a distraction for the players.
Neville also addressed the issue of finding a suitable replacement for Ten Hag, stating that even top clubs like Bayern Munich are struggling to find a new manager. He believes that United should stick with Ten Hag for one more season, giving him a chance to prove himself with a fully fit team, similar to the standards they set last season when they won a trophy and finished in the top four.
In the meantime, United fans will have to wait and see what happens with their team's managerial position. With the season coming to an end and the Euros just around the corner, it will be an exciting and uncertain time for both the club and Southgate. But one thing is for sure, according to Neville, the England boss will not be heading to Old Trafford anytime soon.
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