Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham has backed his former club to appoint Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi if they decide to sack Erik ten Hag.
Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been widely touted to replace ten Hag in recent weeks but, speaking to Genting Casino, Sheringham said that De Zerbi would be a much better choice:
“I’m not convinced by Thomas Tuchel, especially if he’s getting bombed out of Bayern Munich. We knew he was leaving two months ago because of how poor Bayern have been in the Bundesliga, so why would you want him coming to the club? He’s hardly buzzing with confidence. Bayern had won eleven titles on the spin, and with Tuchel in charge for a full season, they are finishing second. That’s not an ideal appointment for me.”
“It’s a tough one. I still like Roberto De Zerbi. I think he has done well at Brighton again this season under difficult circumstances. They’ve sold a lot of quality players over the seasons, that’s the model they have there, and I’m not sure that they’ve reinvested that money to keep the team on the same level as last season. Even with that lack of investment, I think De Zerbi has still done a decent job…”
“I’m still looking at De Zerbi and thinking he could have the ability to manage Manchester United. He seems a little bit temperamental, but I quite like his ethics and the way he speaks about football and plays the game. He wants his teams to play in a certain way and you can tell that he loves football. I like his optimistic view of football and I like the way his teams play.”
What are the odds of De Zerbi succeeding ten Hag at Old Trafford?
The 44-year-old is currently fourth in the running at most bookmakers, with the likes of Sky Bet and Paddy Power pricing him at 11/1 while Bet 365 have slightly shorter odds at 7/1.
As mentioned, Tuchel is the favourite to replace ten Hag if the Dutchman is relieved of his duties, with England boss Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter also regarded as strong candidates.
Ten Hag’s time at United could soon be over
After another abject display against Crystal Palace on Monday night, the chances of the former Ajax boss remaining in charge beyond the end of the season are looking more and more remote.
Some feel that beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final later this month could still save ten Hag’s job but the final decision will rest with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
