Manchester United considering hiring ‘Europe’s best manager’

Manchester United’s loss to Leeds United on Monday was a timely reminder that an interim manager does not necessarily have to become a permanent manager.

Michael Carrick has made a great start, winning two of his last five matches, and has likely lost the support of INEOS and is now looking elsewhere.

Just when it looked like the Red Devils could re-sign Ole Gunnar Solskjær, their biggest rivals handed them a reality check, which Carrick was unable to cash.

The big question now is who will arrive. Several names are already threatening to steal the headlines, including Julian Nagelsmann.

Latest updates on Manchester United manager hunt

Nagelsmann is undoubtedly one of the best young managers in Europe. Reports have emerged in recent days that United bosses are set to hold talks with his camp, and he could even be an outstanding candidate on that front.

In short, he is everything Man United thought Ruben Amorim would be and more, but success at Old Trafford is far from guaranteed.

The German manager’s weaknesses were exposed at Bayern Munich, but Munich were hoping for old-fashioned success, like navigating the training ground on a remote-controlled skateboard. There was no way it was going to work the moment Nagelsmann walked through the door.

Nagelsmann’s Bayern side have scored 255 goals in just 84 games and will continue to find themselves in insane situations, but there are also some defensive concerns.

It is worth noting that this Man United side is also not at the same level as the Bayern side. His system allowed Bayern teams to concede one goal per game, but they have since conceded 33 goals in 31 games in Germany and could do even more damage at Old Trafford.

At a time when the Premier League is very much a reality, being this open defensively comes at a cost, even if it leads to some much-needed scintillating attacking displays.

There needs to be balance no matter who comes, and it’s hard to imagine a world where Sir Jim Ratcliffe is as much of a fan of Nagelsmann’s skateboarding as Bayern is.

The German should be one of the frontrunners, but Luis Enrique remains Manchester United’s priority. The Paris Saint-Germain manager is as close to Pep Guardiola as possible.

In fact, according to United reporter David McDonnell, INEOS are considering Man United’s Enrique as the perfect addition for the summer.

He is on the short list of managers alongside Aston Villa’s Unai Emery and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

Why Enrique is better than Nagelsmann

Enrique’s arrival will feel like Groundhog Day for those at Old Trafford, but this time it’s different. This is not Jose Mourinho or Louis van Gaal.

This is not a big name for the sake of a big name. Rather, he is an innovator, a European champion and someone the Premier League needs as much as Man United.

Last season, he achieved what seemed impossible with PSG: winning the Champions League and completing a historic treble. Not even Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe or Neymar could achieve such an honor. But the Spaniard has turned the French giants into the best team in Europe with a system rather than an individual team.

While 23 defeats in 164 games is an incredible record and some may question the quality of their opponents in Ligue 1, it is worth noting who PSG faced in the Champions League.

This season they defeated Chelsea and Liverpool in Europe, Barcelona at Camp Nou in the league and Real Madrid in the Club World Cup in the summer.

In previous years, the biggest concern for Man United’s top managers has been the adoption of the system. With INEOS at the helm, these concerns should be alleviated.

The Red Devils have been on a recruiting spree over the past 12 months and will add the finishing touch to the move by hiring the man described by Jamie Carragher as ‘Europe’s best manager’.