March 21st 2024.
Gerard Pique began his professional football journey at Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in England. After establishing himself as a modern-day great at Barcelona, Pique still keeps a close eye on his former club and their struggles.
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the future of current Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, with many questioning his ability to turn the team's fortunes around. Pique, while acknowledging the pressure that ten Hag is under, believes that the club should focus on trusting their academy players rather than making expensive signings.
Reports have been circulating that the club's new owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, may be considering a change of direction and has even set his sights on poaching England manager Gareth Southgate. This comes as United have slipped to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, after a disappointing season.
In the midst of these struggles, United did manage to pull off a thrilling FA Cup victory over rivals Liverpool, which Pique describes as "incredible." However, he does not believe that this win will be enough to turn things around for ten Hag's tenure.
As a former player for both Manchester United and Barcelona, Pique understands the challenges that come with a period of transition at a top club. He believes that United's struggles can be attributed to a lack of focus and guidance since the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
While Pique still has faith in ten Hag as a coach, he suggests that the club should put more trust in their academy players, as they have done in the past with the famous Class of '92. In Pique's opinion, this is a better approach than constantly spending big on expensive English and foreign stars, which has not yielded successful results for the team.
Pique also draws parallels with his former club Barcelona, who are also facing their own struggles this season. He believes that in times of difficulty, it is important to trust in the younger generation and give them the chance to prove themselves on the field.
In conclusion, while Pique has reservations about the current state of affairs at Manchester United, he also sees potential for improvement. He believes that with a focus on trusting in the academy and a bit of luck, the club can turn things around and compete for titles once again.
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