Offer made to manager who would 'immediately go to Man Utd' and replace Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim is hanging to the Man Utd job by a thread with Xavi Hernandez being named as a possible replacement.
Manchester United had looked to be turning a corner even if results hadn’t always gone their way this season.
Against Brentford, it was another two steps back though with Ruben Amorim doing himself no favours with a continuous changing of personnel within his infamous system.
There are still a lot of players at United who need to be moved on or who aren’t at the level needed to challenge at the top of the Premier League, however, seeing Mason Mount as a wing-back is not something that any Red Devils’ fan will want to see again.
Xavi Hernandez named as possible Ruben Amorim replacement for Man Utd
The competitive nature of the league this season means that United now sit just three points above 19th in the table with Liverpool on the horizon. A difficult opening to the season isn’t going to get any easier given the strength in depth throughout the continent’s biggest spending competition.
If Amorim was under pressure before, reports now suggest that the Old Trafford hierarchy are looking for a replacement with Gareth Southgate named as a possible option and the more left-field name of Graham Potter who has just been relieved of his duties at West Ham. A more attractive proposition would be former Barcelona boss Xavi, who Fabrizio Romano revealed might be interested in the top job at United.
He was firm in his reporting, noting: “Xavi would go immediately Man United, even without European football.”
However, while Xavi would be keen on Old Trafford, it has been reported in Spain that he is being eyed by the Saudi Pro League. Mundo Deportivo wrote: “The Terrassa native wants to return to coaching a top-level club, and it remains to be seen whether he will consider Al-Ittihad's offer. In England, Xavi has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.”
What Xavi has said about managing in the Premier League
Speaking to The Athletic earlier this year, Xavi made it clear that he would be more than open to a move to the Premier League which coincides with his desire to take his next job at a big club rather than another vanity project in the Middle East: “There’s no hurry for me, but I’d like a good project. Like, ‘You have four years to work and make a project’. I’d love to work in the Premier League because I love the passion there. In Spain, it’s too much about the result,” Xavi said when asked about when he will return to management.
“Look what has happened to Ancelotti and people criticising him. It’s not fair. He won 30 trophies in 10 years and he’s criticised like he’s not won anything. Valverde said it perfectly when he said: ‘If Ancelotti is criticised, what hope is there for the rest of us?’. But the pressure in Spain is difficult, especially at Barca and Madrid. Chelsea with Maresca. Good project. Arteta with Arsenal – it’s his sixth year with Arsenal and there were seasons when it was difficult, but his club trusted the process and continued. He’s doing well. That doesn’t happen in Spain.”
It’s a difficult question. Would United fans take a similar period of stability to that which Arsenal fans have seen since Mikel Arteta took charge? They’ve not won anything; however, they have consistently challenged for the Premier League and are serious contenders for the Champions League too, but it didn’t happen overnight.
Just because it hasn’t worked with Amorim, it doesn’t mean that the club should abandon the plan of rebuilding properly with a long-term idea. A reset has been made with the playing squad and it could be Xavi that takes the next step with it.