For the most part of the 2023–24 season, Erik ten Hag’s job as Manchester United’s coach has not seemed secure.
The Red Devils have struggled to start the Premier League season, lost their Champions League group and are now out of the competition altogether. They were also eliminated from the Carabao Cup.
While many supporters would prefer to see Ten Hag go on, others believe he should have the opportunity to help Manchester United out the latest hole they have dug for themselves given the circumstances upstairs and the number of injuries he has sustained.
Naturally, a number of names have been connected to the position should it become available, including Graham Potter, the former manager of Brighton and Chelsea.
What made Man Utd want to sign Graham Potter?
Potter, Graham
Potter is expected to manage England in the future. / Bryn Lennon/GettyImages
It’s difficult to assess Potter’s coaching reputation at this time. His work at Brighton, where he helped discover new talent that performed well in the Seagulls’ squad and later brought in a lot of money for the club through transfer sales, helped him gain a lot of popularity.
Players including Tariq Lamptey, Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, Billy Gilmour, Julio Enciso, Leandro Trossard, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, and Pervis Estupinan joined Brighton during Potter’s coaching tenure, however he cannot take full responsibility for the acquisitions.
He was able to assemble a team that not only produced exciting, aggressive football but also produced results by working extremely well with both young and seasoned players.
Chelsea wanted to bring the Englishman in for their new age under Todd Boehly, and it was his experience on the south coast that would really motivate Man Utd to make a play for him.
But Potter’s seven-month stint at Chelsea was a complete disaster. After replacing Thomas Tuchel in September 2022, he was fired in April after winning just 12 of his 31 games in charge.
In support of Potter, it seemed improbable that the Chelsea team would succeed under any coach, and this may also be Man Utd’s reasoning. The Blues’ already huge roster became much more fractured with the addition of eight new players, making it nearly difficult to find a stable core.
When Man United makes a decision, they will need to take that period at Chelsea into account, but there are several advantages from his Brighton days that indicate he can succeed at a major league team. Potter ended himself at the only major Premier League team where things were and possibly still are even more chaotic, even though Man Utd is hardly a stable workplace either.
Potter, who has declined offers to take over at Lyon in France and Leicester City in the Championship, wants to return to coaching in 2024, according to 90min.
Potter’s name is one Man Utd should take into consideration if they decide to move on from Ten Hag. Although he is not a well-known pick, major appointments at Manchester United have rarely succeeded.
When will Erik ten Hag be fired by Manchester United?
Erik ten Hag
More time for Ten Hag might be granted / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages
The fact that Man Utd aren’t certain to sack Ten Hag is another factor to take into account. The situation facing the club and coach is peculiar and perplexing.
Despite the dismal outcomes, Ten Hag still has a lot of credit from his excellent first season with the Red Devils. Although the number of injuries is a legitimate consideration when evaluating his performance, the Dutchman has essentially missed the entirety of the 2023–24 season with a full starting lineup.
Man Utd may be without Victor Lindelof, Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Anthony Martial, and Bruno Fernandes due to suspension going into their Sunday encounter against Liverpool. You have a starting lineup there and just need a custodian.
That may contribute to the explanation of the pitch’s outcomes, but ownership is another factor to consider. Is someone in charge of firing Ten Hag and appointing Potter or another coach?
Although INEOS’s 25% ownership in the team has not yet been formally confirmed, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is anticipated to hold significant influence on the team’s athletic operations. It would take a lot of money for someone at Man Utd to sign Ten Hag at this point, given how long that transaction is taking.
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