A title-winning manager once described as the “best coach in the world” has been mentioned as an option for Manchester United, should Ruben Amorim lose his job.
Amorim positive after Man Utd's win over Sunderland
The Red Devils picked up a vital three points in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, overcoming Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko.
Speaking after the game, Amorim assessed a positive day at the office for United, with the Portuguese potentially even saving his job by winning.
“That is the kind of game where when we are not playing well, we are defending well. Today was not a perfect performance. We had our moments. Senne [Lammens] did really well also. We were competitive and an adult team today. We need to win these games and win clean sheets.”
For United and their manager, this really did feel like a must-win game, with dropped points at home to a newly-promoted team feeling disastrous, even though Sunderland have been in good form.
There’s now a two-week break before the Red Devils make the trip to Liverpool after the international break, and while Amorim is safe for now, other managers continue to be linked with his job.
Barcelona legend Xavi waiting for Man Utd job, snubs Saudi offers
According to Caught Offside, Barcelona legend Xavi “could be a name to watch” for Manchester United, should the club part ways with Amorim, with the Spaniard seemingly “waiting” for the job.
The 45-year-old is said to be keen on the idea of managing in England, and has “instructed his representatives to reject offers from Saudi Pro League clubs”.
Xavi would be an interesting option for United, having won the La Liga title with Barca in 2022/23, years after a legendary playing career there. He adopts an attacking 4-3-3 formation, which could go down well with supporters who don’t like Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, and Barca president Joan Laporta once heaped huge praise on him back in 2022.
“I am very lucky to have the best coach in the world, because Xavi, in addition to his great football knowledge, is a man who is always very interesting to listen to with his reasoning, who is also a club man and is very aligned with the club. We share moments together, and also we share much of everything that is being done, and I feel very accompanied and supported with Xavi and all his staff.”
Despite this, United have to be careful not to keep jumping from manager to manager, and should only hire a new head coach if they genuinely feel he is a vastly superior option to Amorim.
The Red Devils’ current boss clearly needs to do better, but it is easy to envisage a scenario where Xavi comes in and also finds it hard. He could excel, in fairness, and is a legendary figure in the game, but holding fire for now is arguably the best option.