15/10/2024
Football News
Zinedine Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, but has been heavily linked with the Manchester United job in recent weeks after Erik ten Hag's struggles
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Manchester United's co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has been encouraged to consider Zinedine Zidane as a potential replacement for the beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag. Despite a dismal start to the season, with only three wins in their first 10 matches across all competitions, Ratcliffe has chosen to stand by Ten Hag for the time being.
However, if the team's poor performance persists, it's likely that Ratcliffe will be on the hunt for a new manager. Zidane, who guided Real Madrid to two La Liga titles and three Champions League victories, could be a strong contender.
Yet, Emmanuel Petit, Zidane's former teammate from France, suggests that Ratcliffe would need to provide assurances regarding transfers and job security to entice Zidane. "I'm not sure that he speaks very good English as well. And communication is very important in the dressing room. Honestly, I know a little bit, Zizou [Zidane], and he needs to get guarantees if he wants to sign over there in Manchester United," Petit told the Manchester Evening News.
"At the moment, the environment at Manchester United for years has not been good. The stability of the bench, the level of the players as well, the expectation of the club is not the same that it used to be. United is still a huge club, but not on the pitch anymore."
"And Zizou is very conscious and very careful about that, the quality of the players. At the moment, when you look at the team, I'm not convinced at all about the level of some players. If he takes the job at Manchester United, that means he's got solutions."