Zinedine Zidane to Man Utd ‘almost impossible’ with Frenchman waiting for dream job
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Pressure is piling on Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The club legend has built a squad capable of challenging for titles, yet the performances are of a side who are trying to secure a top-half finish. As a result, many are calling for the manager to be sacked at Old Trafford, but a recent revelation about a potential replacement could justify why Ed Woodward and co have kept the faith in Solskjaer.
After United’s humiliating 5-0 loss at the hands of Liverpool last month, the Norwegian was thought to have been given three games to prove he can turn things around.
The Red Devils then beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in a comfortable win before drawing 2-2 with Atalanta in the Champions League thanks to a last gasp equaliser from Cristiano Ronaldo.
But United returned to their usual selves at the weekend when they were easily beaten 2-0 by Manchester City, who never had to break a sweat to secure all three points.
To most, it feels like a matter of time before Solskjaer is sacked. However, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the job but there is little to no chance of United securing his signature.
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According to Spanish news outlet AS, Zidane is not interested in coming to the Premier League because he is waiting for a different vacancy.
The former midfielder wants to become the manager of the French national team and is waiting for Didier Deschamps to leave the post, though Les Bleus’ success in the Nations League recently means that if Deschamps does leave soon then it will be on his own accord.
Zidane is also thought to be interested in club management, but he will only sign for a club with a ‘clear winning project’, and currently United cannot be described as that.
The 49-year-old has only ever managed Madrid, or their reserve team, during his time in the dugout but has had plenty of success.
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In just four seasons in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, Zidane won the La Liga twice, the Champions League three times and the UEFA Super Cup twice.
With Zidane, reportedly, out of the question, attention at Old Trafford will turn to other potential candidates.
Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers is the favourite to take over at United, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax’s Erik ten Hag also linked with the potential vacancy.
But there are no guarantees that Solskjaer will even depart and The Athletic have revealed that he is expected to be in charge for the fixture against Watford after the international break.
Speaking after the defeat to City, Solskjaer said: “I can’t look at myself and say this is the way I want Man United to play. I’m in good communication all the time with the club and that’s very upfront and honest about the situation.
“I work for Man United, I want the best for Man United and, of course, as long as I’m here, I want to do what I can do to improve this and that’s going back to what we started to look like, as I said.
“It’s so hard to go through a game like this and we understand everyone’s frustration and disappointment but these boys will do everything they can and the staff will do everything we can and try to get us back to everything we were: front foot, positive, attacking Man United.
“We’ll do what we can to do that.”
It remains to be seen just how much longer Solskjaer retains the faith of those at United, and if he does depart then whether Zidane can be persuaded to take a chance on the once-unstoppable club.
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